Operation Hornbeam

This was a 15-handed conspiracy to evade excise duty, or in other words a smuggling operation.

The case was exceptionally high-value, as it was valued at £28 million.

The evidence was both sizeable and complex, including police and customs surveillance, analysis of telephone traffic, evidence relating to a number of international flights, and experts of various disciplines.

The case was so complex that trials were to take place in three separate groups, to make the evidence more manageable for the juries who would have to consider them.

We successfully obtained a discontinuance of the case before trial, with a Not Guilty verdict for our client.