MDMA dealer who smuggled drugs into prison jailed
NEROCUA major drug dealer who was caught importing MDMA into the UK and was later part of a gang smuggling illicit goods into prison has been jailed for almost 11 years.
Shaun Mason, 34, was serving a 16 year jail term for dealing when he and five others, including a prison nurse, conspired to import drugs into HMP Durham and HMP Northumberland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Mason, who had to be extradited back to the UK after fleeing to Spain, had two of his previous drug dealing convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal, but has admitted two new counts of conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs.
He was jailed for a total of 10 years and 11 months for the drug and prison offences.
Border Force officers in Essex intercepted two parcels from the Netherlands on 16 June 2020, prosecutor Deborah Smithies said.
They were addressed to houses in Pelton, County Durham, connected to Mason and were found to contain a total of 10kg of 96% purity MDMA hidden under clothing, the court heard.
GooglAn undercover police officer delivered decoy packages to the two houses a few days later, with one of the occupants later telling officers Mason had ordered her to be in to take delivery of them, the court heard.
Police raided the homes and seized a mobile phone which was using EncroChat, an encrypted mobile phone service favoured by criminals.
They found messages between Mason and other drug associates arranging the sale of large quantities of ketamine between March and July 2020, Ms Smithies said.
She said the evidence showed Mason "played a leading role directing the buying and selling [of drugs] on a commercial scale".
By that point Mason had fled from police to Spain after a cannabis farm was discovered, the court heard.
He was later extradited back to the UK and jailed for 16 years, although that conviction was partially quashed by the Court of Appeal and the case was re-sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.
While in prison, he and five others smuggled drugs and electronics into the HMP Durham and HMP Northumberland, the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit said.
Four of his accomplices were previously sentenced, while his sister Kayleigh Mason, 36, of Homestall Close in South Shields, was given a 12-month community order for transferring £1,100 for her brother as part of the criminal scheme.
She had admitted possession of criminal property while her brother admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and to convey prohibited articles into prison.