Dad to be uses 'post office insider' to smuggle huge amount of cutting agent from China

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A father to be imported 15 kilos of a cutting agent, intended for the supply of cocaine, into the UK.

Police found multiple blocks of benzocaine in a barn outside the home of Aaron Patterson, during a search.


The seized benzocaine could have bulked out 5kg of cocaine, giving it a potential street value of £800,000.

No class A drugs were found on the premises during the search.

However, officers also recovered 28 ounces of cathinone, a class B drug similar to amphetamine, worth about £7,000.

The 30-year-old, of Wilstone Close, Loughborough, admitted encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, by having benzocaine intended for cocaine supply, between September 2015 and July 2016.

He also admitted possession with intent to supply the cathinone, on July 1, 2016.


Paul Prior, prosecuting, said the defendant had been purchasing the blocks of benzocaine over the internet from China.

They were shipped to the UK under false names and it was believed that an unknown Post Office insider assisting him in taking possession of the packages.

The 15 kilo haul of benzocaine was worth £3,000 and there was evidence of the defendant having purchased a total of £12,000 worth of it over a nine month period, Mr Prior said.

What the judge said
Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “You were engaging in the supply of benzocaine, a cutting agent used, ultimately, in the supply of cocaine to street users.

“That’s part and parcel to the principal offence to which you’ve pleaded guilty.

“You believed the supply of cocaine would be committed and you assisted or encouraged in the supply of cocaine, a class A drug.

“This is an unusual offence.

“You were in possession of a significant amount of benzocaine, which didn’t have a high value in itself; £3,000.



“It’s important to make the distinction between the supplying of benzocaine and the supply of cocaine.

“You were operating a business in the sale of benzocaine.

“It’s clear, in general terms, your character is very far from that of a drugs supplier and there are aspects of your character that are indeed admirable.

“I hope and expect you’ve leant your lesson.”

What was said in his defence?
Defence barrister, Thomas Schofield, said: “It’s an exceptional case.

“He has no previous convictions for trafficking drugs and no actual cocaine was found, notwithstanding the help he was no doubt giving to a substantial cocaine dealing operation.

“There’s no doubt he was playing an essential role for the onward supply of cocaine by others.

“His closeness to those who were adulterating the drug and trafficking it isn’t clear.


“He was in the chain that was necessary for this kind of conspiracy, but didn’t play a leading role.”

The court heard that the defendant’s partner was pregnant with his child.

He was jailed for four years.