Gang that illegally imported 91,350,000 laughing gas canisters into UK are jailed

Three men who brought 91 million laughing gas cannisters into the UK have been jailed.

Twins Benjamin and Thomas Richardson alongside Carl Messen shipped the haul of nitrous oxide between May 2016 and December 2018 by creating fake companies, helping them launder up to £16.7 million.

Thomas even posed for a selfie with a massive stack of cash.

The companies created had names alluding to the catering industry, which imports the gas legally to use for whipped cream.

But the gang brought in almost triple the amount of the combined 3.8 million imported by Costa and Starbucks in the same period.

Benjamin Richardson, 38, was jailed for six years and two months, Thomas Richardson was jailed for five years and eight months, and Carl Messen 58, was jailed for three years and two months.

They were found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance, money laundering and possessing criminal cash.

In 2016 it was made illegal to supply or import nitrous oxide if it was likely to be consumed for its psychoactive effect.

Heavy use can result in serious health harms such as neurological damage and even death due to the risk of falling unconscious and/or suffocating from the lack of oxygen.

Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit said: ‘This was an organised enterprise whose sole purpose was importing a psychoactive substance into the UK to be used illegally.

‘Despite it being made illegal, this group continued to trade in nitrous oxide while fully knowing its ultimate use was to be sold as a drug.

‘They made vast profits from their activities and structured their businesses in a way that tried to conceal their activities and to launder their ill-gotten income.

‘Our dedicated team of investigators at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit successfully demonstrate to the court that this was an unlawful enterprise making millions while fuelling harm and misery in our communities and further afield. I’m pleased that the sentences reflect the severity of their actions.’

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