Three men sentenced for £5 million smuggling operation

Andrew Brennan, along with two brothers, has been sentenced for smuggling illegal tobacco and drugs into the UK. The group trafficked over £5 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes and cocaine using encrypted messages. Brennan warned a customer with violent threats while discussing sales. The tobacco products included fake Mayfair and Chesterfield cigarettes imported from Greece and Belgium. Their operation was exposed after French police infiltrated their network in 2020. Brennan was known to communicate under the name "Special Mask," while Peter and Paul Wilson used different aliases. Brennan and the Wilsons discussed transporting illicit goods hidden in shipments, like placing cigarettes among pasta. They also planned to make their own counterfeit products. Police arrested the men in March 2022, with Brennan caught in Kirkdale. Brennan received an eight-year sentence after admitting to conspiracy charges. Peter Wilson was sentenced to 10 years and eight months, while Paul Wilson got nine years. The judge emphasized the severe consequences of their actions on families and communities. The defense highlighted the personal struggles of the men, including family health issues. Brennan's lawyer noted his remorse and stressed that he had previously been a law-abiding citizen. Judge Charlotte Crangle reminded the men that trading in drugs and illegal goods causes significant harm and must be punished accordingly.