Acquittal for Alexandra Monaghan’s client following a 3-month trial .

Alexandra Monaghan and Richard Furlong (of Mountford Chambers), instructed and assisted throughout by Henry Williams of JMW, represented Mr S, a man of good character at Leeds Crown Court, resulting in his unanimous acquittal on both counts.

The trial represented the prosecution for the largest importation of a psychoactive substance since the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force.

All six defendants faced allegations of conspiracy to import approximately 92 million canisters of Nitrous Oxide into the UK from Holland and Taiwan across a two-year period. The second count of money laundering concerned the transfer of £13m across various bank accounts over the same period.

The prosecution relied on extensive evidence of communications with the ultimate purchasers of the Nitrous Oxide to support the assertion that the Nitrous Oxide was destined for supply for human consumption and that all defendants were fully aware of this.

Mr S was the Director of a company through which Nitrous Oxide was imported into the UK. He was also the registered holder of two bank accounts through which over half a million pounds representing the proceeds of the sale of the Nitrous Oxide passed.

The prosecution case against Mr S was that he willingly assisted the first and second defendants with their operation and did so knowing or intending that the Nitrous Oxide would be supplied for human consumption.

Following a 3-month trial, Mr S was acquitted of both counts.