How did John Spiby build a £288 million drug empire?

John Spiby used his £2.5 million lottery winnings to establish a sophisticated drug factory behind his rural cottage, producing counterfeit diazepam tablets on an industrial scale.

What did police find when they raided John Spiby's drug operation?

Police discovered high-spec machinery for manufacturing drugs, millions of counterfeit diazepam tablets, three firearms with ammunition, and significant sums of cash.

What was the street value of the drugs produced by John Spiby's gang?

Detectives estimate the potential street value of the drugs produced by Spiby and his gang ranged from £57.6 million to £288 million.

Home / Crime and Justice / Lottery Winner Built £288M Drugs Empire From Rural Cottage

Lottery Winner Built £288M Drugs Empire From Rural Cottage

31 Jan

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Summary

A pensioner used £2.5 million lottery winnings to build a £288 million drug empire.
He operated a large-scale factory producing counterfeit diazepam tablets.
Police discovered firearms, cash, and industrial drug manufacturing machinery.

Lottery Winner Built £288M Drugs Empire From Rural Cottage

An 80-year-old pensioner, John Spiby, who won £2.5 million on the lottery in 2010, secretly established a vast drug empire valued at up to £288 million. Instead of retiring, Spiby used his winnings to construct a sophisticated, industrial-scale facility behind his rural cottage in Astley, near Wigan, Greater Manchester. This operation churned out counterfeit diazepam tablets at an astonishing rate, with police estimating the potential street value to range from £57.6 million to £288 million.

The conspiracy, described as 'very sophisticated and very significant,' also involved Spiby's son and two associates, who operated a second drug factory in Salford. The gang utilized the encrypted Encrochat network for communication, where Spiby reportedly joked about billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. When authorities raided the premises, they discovered high-spec machinery, millions of counterfeit tablets, three firearms with ammunition, and significant amounts of cash.