Woman Jailed Over £3.3m Cannabis Seizure

A 40-year-old woman has been sentenced to a total of 3 years and 9 months in connection with the seizure of cannabis worth £3.3 million in Belfast and Heathrow Airport in 2020.

Yingle Jiang had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of Class B controlled drugs, removing and attempting to remove criminal property, and also encouraging or assisting offences under the Serious Crime Act.

At Belfast Crown Court, she was sentenced to a total of three years and nine months and was ordered to serve one year in prison – with the remainder of her sentence to be spent on licence.

Welcoming the sentencing, Detective Inspector Kelly of the Organised Crime Unit said: "Jiang was identified as a significant member of an organised crime gang behind a number of large cash and drug transactions.

"In May 2020, £50,000 was recovered in Belfast concealed within a rice cooker, while a further £50,000 was seized by officers from West Midlands Police in Birmingham, also concealed within a rice cooker, originating from Belfast.

"Then in June of the same year a pallet of music speakers containing cannabis with a potential street value of £1.4 million was intercepted in Heathrow Airport destined for an address in east Belfast.

"In July 2020 cannabis with a potential street value of £1.9 million was recovered from a house in east Belfast.

"The drugs were sent from Birmingham and concealed within speakers - two people were arrested at that location.

"A month later, detectives conducted searches of three properties in south and east Belfast, and located a further quantity of cannabis and a large amount of cash.  Jiang and another man were arrested on that occasion."

Detective Inspector Kelly continued: "Today’s sentencing demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prevent the supply of illegal drugs and to prosecute those criminals involved in the supply of illegal drugs.

"Detectives worked tirelessly to detect this criminality and identify those involved – subsequently bringing a full evidential package before the court.

"These drugs would have made their way to other criminal gangs across Northern Ireland and, by the onward supply and profiteering, increased their grip on the community.

"Drug gangs prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities with the sole aim of maintaining their lifestyle and status."

Information from the public is crucial in helping us tackle the scourge of drugs and removing those who supply drugs from our streets.

Information can be given directly to police by calling 101 or online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org