Three Dutch nationals who used second-hand ambulances to smuggle drugs worth €2bn into Britain have been jailed for up to 28 years by a court in Birmingham.

The gang were picked up in June after an investigation lasting several months. One ambulance was found to contain 270 kilos of cocaine, heroine and amphetamines with a street value of some €10m.

The investigation found the men had made at least 45 trips to Britain, including to London and Manchester.

Main suspect Olof Schoon, who owned the Hoofddorp company which organised the ambulance trips and had admitted his involvement, was jailed for 24 years. Leonardus Bijlsma and Richard Engelsbel were given 28 and 18 years respectively. Engelsbel had admitted making some 25 trips across the channel.

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