A Liverpool man has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison after police discovered £17 million worth of ketamine hidden inside his van.
Paul Farrelly, 46, was stopped by officers on 16 September while driving a VW Crafter along the East Lancashire Road. During the stop, he appeared visibly nervous. Inside the van, officers found 22 large industrial sacks hidden among kitchen worktops. Forensic tests later confirmed the contents were ketamine.
Further examination revealed that the kitchen worktops had been hollowed out, concealing an additional 13 sacks of the drug. In total, officers recovered 875kg of ketamine — one of the largest single seizures ever made in the UK.
Farrelly, of Redbank Close in Fazakerley, was charged with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 23 October.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts of the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership said the seizure prevented a substantial quantity of ketamine from reaching vulnerable users. He added that misuse of ketamine, often considered a “party drug,” can cause lifelong physical and mental harm.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Andrew Blennerhassett highlighted the scale of the operation and the dangers posed by involvement in the illegal drug trade. He praised the joint efforts of Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency in disrupting the criminal network.
