Ormskirk man sentenced to 13 years after his role in trying to import 400 kilos of cocaine

An organised crime group’s logistics man has been jailed for 13 years for his role in a plot to import 400 kilos of cocaine hidden inside Argentinian beef.

David McDermott, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, is the last of seven members of the group to be jailed over the failed bid in May 2013.

McDermott, aged 43, went on the run and was eventually traced to Ghana in March 2016. He was arrested and then extradited to the UK in May.

He pleaded guilty on the basis that he conspired to import 50 kilos of the 400 kilo load at Liverpool Crown Court.

The cocaine had a value to organised crime of £15m but if cut and sold it would have had a potential street value of approximately £71m.