ALLEGED drugs boss, Darwen man Gerald Deaffern, is to face a re-trial at Liverpool Crown Court beginning in November.

A jury failed to agree a verdict on 39-year-old Deaffern, of Sunny Hill Close, last month after a nine-week trial and now a new trial date of November 1 has been set.

A bail application was refused by Judge Denis Clark and Deaffern was remanded in custody.

During his trial, it was alleged that Deaffern had imported, distributed and laundered the proceeds of drug sales through a series of companies.

He and others were arrested after a police investigation, code-named Operation Jefferson, which followed the shipment of drugs believed to be worth more than £100million into the North West over two years ending in March 2003. Evidence against him and a 56-year-old Bury haulage contractor, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was given by a supergrass who is serving seven years.

Deaffern's co-accused was found guilty of conspiring to supply £2million worth of cannabis and jailed for 11 years.

Deaffern denies the cannabis charge and has also pleaded denied conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.