MERSEYSIDE Police's Middle Market Drugs Unit (MMDU) charged three men who appeared at St. Helens Magistrates, on morning 16 April, on drug related offences. This follows the discovery by Customs Officers of 7.2 tonnes of cannabis, with an estimated street value of £35 million, at Liverpool's Seaforth docks. This discovery lead to arrest of the three men and the arrest of a 25 year old woman on 14 April 2004. 

Michael Minshall, aged 45 from Rockside, Mowcop in Stoke, Gary Scarlett, aged 26 years from Burlidge Road in Stoke and Scott Minshall aged 23 years from Blandford Close in Stoke have all been charged with the importation of cannabis and concern in the supply of cannabis.

CUSTOMS officers at Manchester airport seized cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £1 million over the Easter weekend.

A British man was charged on Good Friday with illegally importing £360,000 of cocaine (news release NW 15/04), and on Sunday two Nigerians were charged with smuggling separate consignments with a total street value of around £540,000 (NW 16/04).

A fourth man appeared yesterday (Monday) at Manchester magistrates court following the discovery of three kilos of cocaine in luggage. Nigerian male Adefolarin Abimbola Adefolakan Phillips, aged 50, arrived from Lagos via Frankfurt on Easter Sunday and was charged with attempting to import an estimated £180,000 of the drug into the
UK. Customs Head of Detection North West Jeremy Lee said:- "This Easter weekend alone, Customs officers at Manchester airport have stopped cocaine worth over £1 million reaching our streets.

This shows Customs protecting society by reducing the availability of harmful drugs and hitting the profits of those involved."

HUNDREDS of representatives from the North West’s top businesses are coming together to lend their support to Research into Ageing at a special charity gala dinner hosted by The David McLean Group in aid of Research into Ageing’s One for All Appeal.

Liverpool comedian Willy Miller is the evening’s host and he will be joined by Green Goddess Diana Moran and One Foot in the Grave’s Mrs Warboys, Doreen Mantle.

An evening of glitz and glamour awaits the audience at St Georges Hall today, along with an auction of money-can’t-buy prizes donated by TV and sporting stars including Ant and Dec, Stephen Fry, the England Rugby team, and some of the region’s top sporting clubs and venues. 

Prizes include football and rugby tickets, a brewery tour for 25 people, an Ant and Dec signed Pop Idol script, Harry Potter memorabilia and a rugby ball signed by the England Rugby team.

The One for All Appeal is The David McLean Group’s Charity of the Year and aims to raise £1 million to fund research fellowships across the North West.

SOUTHPORT'S Pleasureland issed us this press release this week in responce to media interest in an incident that happened in the afternoon of Friday 9 April, at approximately 3:45pm on its ‘Skyride’.

"The 'skyride' aerial cableway was stopped to allow a passenger to embark.

When the operator attempted to restart the ride, it did not respond. The operator then followed prescribed safety procedures and called for the rides manager and an engineer. As an additional safety precaution the fire service was also asked to attend.

It was then decided to use the back-up motor to enable the passengers to disembark. By the time the fire service arrived 19 of the 23 passengers were off the ride, with the fire service assisting the remaining 4 passengers to exit the attraction.

At all times safety procedures were followed and at no time were any of the passengers in danger.

The ‘Skyride’ is a popular, slow moving family ride, which has operated successfully at Pleasureland for a number of years. It will remain closed until all appropriate tests have been undertaken." Phil Pickett of Pleasureland told us.