LIVERPOOL, England, July 29 (UPI) -- Career criminal George Moon ran an international cocaine empire from his prison cell in England, authorities say.
Moon, with the help of accomplices, were found to have imported a million pounds of the illicit drug before being interrupted by police last year, The Times of London reported Wednesday.
Moon used a smuggled cell phone powered by an adapted electric razor to coordinate the transport of cocaine from Panama and Venezuela to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the newspaper said.
Moon, 62, who was serving a 15-year sentence in the Lindholme prison for a drug conspiracy conviction, has pleaded guilty to the new drug charges in Liverpool Crown Court. Five of Moon's associates also have pleaded guilty, while charges against Moon's son were dropped.
"We know that career criminals like George Moon look for any way to continue their illegal activities, even within prison," Bill Hughes, director general of the Serious Organized Crime Agency said. "They are ingenious and determined, but so are we. Moon was a cynical, complacent criminal who thought he was beyond reach but he was caught red-handed.
"This is a warning shot for anyone who thinks prison won't affect business as usual. We are determined to stamp down hard on criminals -- wherever they operate."
