Three Men Charged in UK's Second-Largest Ketamine Seizure
Police confiscated approximately 500 kilograms of ketamine, estimated to be worth £10 million, leading to multiple drug-related charges.
Three men have been charged following the seizure of what authorities believe to be the United Kingdom's second-largest haul of ketamine, with an estimated street value of £10 million. The significant quantity of the drug, weighing approximately 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds), was discovered at a property on Rose Avenue in the Upton area of Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police reported that 20 black bin bags containing the substance were found during the operation, which was conducted by the Regional Organised Crime Unit. The largest ketamine seizure on record in the UK occurred in Merseyside in 2025, valued at an estimated £17 million.
The individuals charged are Curtis Binns, 32, and Paul Turner, 40, both of Upton, and Christopher Willis, 42, from Wolverhampton. They face various drug offenses and are scheduled to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court.
Binns, residing on Sunny Avenue, has been charged with possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and money laundering. Turner, of Common Lane, faces charges of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply. Willis has been charged with supplying a Class B drug.
Ketamine, commonly used as a tranquilizer for animals, can lead to severe health issues when abused, including irreversible bladder damage that may necessitate lifelong medical treatment.