A HAULAGE contractor from Bury has been jailed for 11 years after being convicted of his involvement in a major drugs supplying plot.

The 56-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court of conspiring to supply £2million worth of cannabis but cleared of a similar charge involving cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.

Alongside him in the dock was Gerald Deaffern, of Darwen, who also both denied both charges. Following more than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury failed to agree verdicts on him and he is to face a re-trial.

Daniel Green, of Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply £1.3million worth of cannabis and amphetamine and was jailed for six years.

The arrests of the men followed an investigation, code-named Operation Jefferson, by Lancashire Police Major Crime Unit, which followed the shipment of drugs believed to be worth more than £100million into the North-west over two years ending in March last year.

Judge Denis Clark said: "No one goes into this filthy business, trading in drugs, unless they do it as a deliberate decision.

"People like you, family men, bring it in to make ready cash, to give yourselves a lifestyle that enhances you. You are business men who did it for greed and there is no excuse." Four of the shipments, with a total a value of £25million, were seized by Customs and Excise officers .

Raymond Wigglesworth, QC, prosecuting, said that the Bury man had been present as several consignments of the drugs were unloading at his premises. He would unlock the warehouse and let the men in but did not physically help in unloading them.

Evidence against him and Deaffern was given by a supergrass, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, who has admitted his involvement and is currently serving seven years.

Anthony Cross, defending, said that the Bury man, who had never been to prison, had agreed to provide a safe haven for the drugs and had not been present at each unloading. He said: "He is a broken man who finds the thought of spending years in prison very difficult."

During the nine-week trial it was alleged that his co-accused, 39-year-old Deaffern, had imported, distributed and then laundered the proceeds of drug sales through a series of companies which were either controlled by him or by close business associates.

Deaffern was further remanded in custody to await his re-trial.