A SENIOR customs official last night claimed that the conviction of eight men for attempting to smuggle three tonnes of cannabis worth #10m into Scotland would destroy an international drugs ring.
Three Dutch nationals and one American were among those found guilty at the High Court in Dunfermline of involvement in the case, which led to the death of a customs officer when two boats collided as the drugs were intercepted off the northern coast of Scotland in July last year.
Mr John Clifford, assistant chief investigation officer with Customs and Excise, declined to give details of other operations but said: ''Let's just say that our colleagues in the US, South Africa, and Israel are absolutely delighted with the outcome of this case.''
It is understood that at least some of the four - three of whom are related - are suspected of having taken part in the smuggling of cocaine worth #150m into Florida last year.
Mr Clifford added: ''This case, code-named Operation Balvenie, was a major success against a highly organised drugs-smuggling organisation.
''It was also a success for national and international co-operation between customs and police throughout the UK, Holland, and Spain.
''It is yet another example of the fact that illegal drugs are an international problem and must be tackled as such.''
The eight men will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on March 13. An application by the Crown to seize assets belonging to seven of the men, including the two boats they used, a Jaguar car, and 117 bags of cannabis, will be considered on April 3.
Fifteen police officers, some armed, were in court at Dunfermline as the jury of 11 men and four women returned their verdicts at the end of a three-month trial.
There were gasps from the relatives of the accused in the public galleries as the guilty verdicts were read out.
Liluwe Hoekstra, 57, Jan Van Rijs, 52, his son, 29-year-old Ronny Van Rijs - an American - his nephew, Hendrick Van Rijs, 24, Brian Silverman 55, from east London, and Roderick McLean, 30, of Granton Road, Edinburgh, were found guilty of drug smuggling by majority verdicts.
Gary Hunter, 34, of Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, was unanimously found guilty of the drug-smuggling charge and by a majority verdict of endangering the lives of customs officers and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by setting fire to the cannabis on the Ocean Jubilee as the officers boarded it.
Roderick McLean, 53, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty during the trial to his part in the drug-smuggling operation and to setting fire to the cannabis.
A ninth man, Kenneth Corrigan, 38, also of Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, walked free after the smuggling charge against him was found not proven.
Advocate depute Mr Alan Turnbull, QC, said that at least two of the eight men had previous convictions.
McLean Jr was sentenced to nine months in prison at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 1993 for 14 charges of reset.
Silverman had 12 convictions ranging from burglary to actual bodily harm and police assault. He had served two prison sentences, of three and four years, for handling stolen property and theft.
After the jury's verdict had been returned, Silverman had to be removed from the dock when he shouted at his arresting officer, Mr Colin McAllister: ''When I get out, I will get you. I swear it.'' After about five minutes, he was allowed back into the dock.
He had earlier apologised to the sister of the dead customs officer, Mr Alastair Soutar, saying: ''I'm sorry about your brother.''
Customs officer Mr Douglas Neish, who was in charge of the operation, said he was ''delighted'' by yesterday's outcome.
Jan Van Rijs's solicitor, Mr Shaun George, said his client was ''disappointed'' by the jury's verdict and would be giving ''careful consideration'' about whether to appeal.
The cannabis seized was one of the largest amounts to be intercepted being smuggled into Scotland by sea.
The accused were finally arrested at the same time in the North Sea, Inverness, Edinburgh, and London after an extensive surveillance operation throughout the UK, on the continent, and around the coast of Scotland, during which the smugglers' other boat, the Isolda, was tracked by spy planes using highly sophisticated equipment on its journey from Cadiz, Spain, to Scotland.
Customs officers were monitoring the Isolda and the Ocean Jubilee and raided them after they had completed a rendezvous east of Caithness.
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