A Liverpool driver has been locked up for five years and four months after cops found one of the UK’s largest ketamine hauls stashed in his van – disguised as kitchen worktops.
£17m Worth of Ketamine Seized on East Lancashire Road
Paul Farrelly, 46, was stopped by Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) on 16 September while driving his VW Crafter. Officers were suspicious of his nervous behaviour and searched the van, uncovering 22 industrial sacks with a suspicious white powder.
Forensic testing later confirmed the substance was ketamine, a powerful drug often used as a horse tranquiliser but abused by humans with dangerous and sometimes permanent consequences.
Hidden Stash Inside Hollowed-Out Worktops
Farrelly’s van was taken for further inspection, revealing that the stack of kitchen worktops was hollowed out to conceal 13 more sacks of the drug. In total, officers confiscated 875kg of ketamine – with an eye-watering street value of £17 million.
Farrelly Faces Justice After Pleading Guilty
He was charged with possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court. He was sentenced immediately, bringing down the hammer on a major drug trafficking case.
DCI Tony Roberts, Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership: “This is one of the largest ketamine seizures ever in the UK. Thanks to our team, Farrelly’s haul won’t harm vulnerable users. Many see ketamine as a cheap party drug, but it can cause lifelong mental and physical damage. Organised criminals like Farrelly don’t care about the devastation they cause. We’re determined to keep these drugs off our streets.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Andrew Blennerhassett, CPS Mersey-Cheshire: “Ketamine’s legal use is mostly veterinary, but its illegal use leads to serious health issues. Farrelly was deeply involved in drug dealing, though whether he was part of a bigger network remains unclear. Thanks go to the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership and Merseyside Police’s Matrix Disruption Team for their excellent work keeping our communities safe.”
Merseyside Police’s Matrix Disruption Team played a key role in stopping Farrelly, targeting high-risk organised crime in the region. This major bust is a significant blow to ketamine trafficking in the UK.
