Tim O’Toole was arrested in Marbella as the gang prepared to transfer the shipment, originally from Venezuela, to speed boats off the coast of Spain.
The drugs were destined for all parts of Europe, with millions of pounds worth heading for Britain’s streets. O’Toole – known as the Invisible Man – masterminded the huge transport operation. Last night a British customs source said: “O’Toole was a major player as the sentence indicates. “This was Europe’s biggest cocaine smuggling network and it was the first of what were intended to be a series of large-scale shipments. “Had this not been stopped, tons of the stuff could have ended up in Britain.” Middle-aged O’Toole, from Ireland, had a luxury villa and fast cars in Marbella. He also spent time in London. He was arrested three years ago after a year-long inquiry codenamed Operation Tulle. It involved British Customs, the Met Police and cops in Spain and Portugal. O’Toole’s assets were seized when he appeared in court in Madrid. The gang’s Spanish godfather Daniel Baula Carballo was fined £290million and jailed for 17½ years. Third ringleader Gonzalo Ferreiro was jailed for 13½ years and fined £144million.
The drugs were destined for all parts of Europe, with millions of pounds worth heading for Britain’s streets. O’Toole – known as the Invisible Man – masterminded the huge transport operation. Last night a British customs source said: “O’Toole was a major player as the sentence indicates. “This was Europe’s biggest cocaine smuggling network and it was the first of what were intended to be a series of large-scale shipments. “Had this not been stopped, tons of the stuff could have ended up in Britain.” Middle-aged O’Toole, from Ireland, had a luxury villa and fast cars in Marbella. He also spent time in London. He was arrested three years ago after a year-long inquiry codenamed Operation Tulle. It involved British Customs, the Met Police and cops in Spain and Portugal. O’Toole’s assets were seized when he appeared in court in Madrid. The gang’s Spanish godfather Daniel Baula Carballo was fined £290million and jailed for 17½ years. Third ringleader Gonzalo Ferreiro was jailed for 13½ years and fined £144million.
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