Drugs baron who flooded UK with cocaine entered crime at 'Premier League level' and became one of the country's most wanted

A drugs baron who flooded the UK with cocaine was told he'd entered crime at 'Premier League level' as he finally faced justice. Michael Moogan, 37, spent eight years on the run and became one of the country's most wanted men before finally being caught in Dubai.

He was dragged back to Greater Manchester after being extradited, and appeared philosophical on his return. "You’re not going to have any trouble from me," he told the arresting officer after arriving back on home soil.

"I’m tired now. Get me up to Manny and get me in Cat A. I’m done now."

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Moogan was since been remanded in Strangeways prison and appeared on video link at Manchester Crown Court on Friday morning, where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Moogan had no previous convictions before his involvement in huge importations of the class A drugs.

"You have chosen to enter the world of crime at Premier League level," Judge Paul Lawton told him. "You knew you were flooding the UK with cocaine, and in doing so enabling other organised crime groups to ply their trade, with all its inherent violence and associated criminality.

"You knew you were playing for extremely high stakes." Prosecutors told how Moogan had been involved in importing 62 kilos of cocaine into the UK after meeting other criminals at the Café de Ketel in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Dutch police bugged the premises, which was not open to the public and had an intercom to allow entry, to record conversations and took secret video footage of those leaving and entering.

The cafe was used as the 'operational base' for two brothers who were said to be wholesale importers