Internet Drugs Ring Couple Face U.S. Extradition

By GAVIN MADELEY

A COUPLE arrested over an Internet-based drug ring had enough chemicals to produce three-quarters of a ton of the deadly drug crystal meth, a court heard yesterday.

Brian Howes, 43, and his partner Kerry-Ann Shanks, 28, both face extradition to the U.S. on charges that they ran a web-based operation selling chemicals overseas that are used in the illegal manufacture of the banned substance.

The pair were arrested at their home in Bo’ness, West Lothian, on Tuesday in a dramatic dawn raid by officers from Central Scotland Police acting on behalf of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

A court in Arizona is alleging they supplied large quantities of two chemicals, red phosphorous and iodine, to illegal drug laboratories in the U.S.involved in making up to $12million worth of the synthetic drug methamphetamine, known as crystal meth.

The arrests followed a seven-month international intelligence operation.

Crystal meth can lead to violence, depression, paranoia and kidney failure. It was recently reclassified from Class B to Class A in the UK, meaning anyone caught dealing or making it faces prison.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, both Howes and Shanks were refused bail after a sheriff ruled they posed too much of a ‘flight risk’ if they were freed.

Sheriff Isabella McColl said she had to protect the public after hearing about the large amount o f the chemicals found at addresses relating to the couple.

They were remanded in custody pending a full hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 19, when they will fight extradition to the U.S. for trial.

Shanks, who has four children aged nine, seven, four and 11 months, could be heard wailing as she was led away in handcuffs.

Howes was later taken back to his home, also in handcuffs, while police searched the property.

Last night, forensics teams remained at the addresses, which include Bo’ness Motor Museum and a funeral parlour in the town.

Earlier, principal depute David Dickson said a total of just over a ton of red phosphorous and iodine were found by police during raids yesterday in Bo’ness as part of an international operation.

That amount could have produced three-quarters of a ton of crystal meth, he said.

This came despite an earlier police investigation of a company in which the pair had controlling interests found to be selling the two chemicals between 2004 and 2006.

Mr Dickson said clients had even told the couple they needed a licence to trade the potentially dangerous compounds in America.

The chemicals are legal in Scotland but regulated in the States. Paperwork involved in the case suggested the website run by the couple contained a recipe for the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Robert Fairbairn, for Shanks, had argued that she should be freed on bail to care for her children.

Defence agent Eddie Wilson said Howes, who is originally from Middlesbrough and is the father of Shanks’ two youngest children, was a director of a website selling jewellery.

The U.S. indictment includes two conspiracy charges, 64 counts of illegally importing or distributing chemicals and 15 of using the mail or Internet in a crime.

The U.S. authorities claim Lab Chemicals International in Grangemouth, operated by the couple along with other people, has been supplying such chemicals across the U.S. and that more than 80 illegal drug laboratories were uncovered there.

Paul Charlton, U.S. Attorney for Arizona, said: ‘As far back as 2004, Howes and Shanks ran an Internet business suspected of supplying a global network of meth labs in the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.’ If convicted, the couple face a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail, a $250,000 fine or both.

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