Twin brothers who amassed millions by flooding the UK with a staggering 91 million canisters of 'hippy crack' have been jailed.
Benjamin and Thomas Richardson, both 38, along with accomplice Carl Messen, operated a network of bogus catering companies, including one named 'Worldwide Coffee Traders Ltd', as a front for their £16.7 million money laundering scheme.
The trio were all handed prison sentences at Leeds Crown Court after it was revealed they had imported nitrous oxide canisters.
Their extensive operation ran from May 2016 until December 2018, despite new legislation making it illegal to import such substances if they are likely to be used as drugs.
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During a lengthy 12-week trial, the court heard that the quantity imported far exceeded the combined 3.8 million canisters used by two of the UK's largest coffee chains, Costa and Starbucks, over a similar timeframe.
Deposits into the criminals' bank accounts totalled more than £16.7 million, with over £12 million being cash deposits.
It is believed that most, if not all, of this money was made illegally.
In one image released by police, Thomas Richardson can be seen grinning next to piles of cash stacked in bands, flaunting the cash.
The 38-year-old, from The Laurels, Barlby, North Yorkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance, money laundering, and possession of criminal cash. He received a prison sentence of five years and eight months.
His brother, Benjamin Richardson, of the same age and address, was convicted of the same charges and received a six-year and two-month prison sentence.
Carl Messen, aged 58, of South Farm Drive, Skellow, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to import a psychoactive substance and money laundering. He was jailed for three years and two months.
Heavy nitrous oxide use can result in serious health harms such as neurological damage and even death due to the risk of falling unconscious or suffocating from the lack of oxygen.
There have been numerous reports of anti-social behaviour in connection with the abuse of the drug, including gatherings to abuse the drug in public parks before the cannisters are carelessly littered on the street.
There have also been deaths connected to drug driving incidents.
Ramona Senior, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "This was an organised enterprise whose sole purpose was importing a psychoactive substance into the UK to be used illegally.
"Despite it being made illegal, this group continued to trade in nitrous oxide while fully knowing its ultimate use was to be sold as a drug.
"They made vast profits from their activities and structured their businesses in a way that tried to conceal their activities and to launder their ill-gotten income."
She added: "Proceedings to recover the proceeds of crime obtained in the course of this criminal activity remain ongoing."