'Aladdin's Cave' of drugs online

Published on Tuesday 29 January 2008 21:09

A BUSINESSMAN wanted by US authorities who say he sold banned chemicals via the internet has denied running an "Aladdin's Cave" for drug-makers.

Brian Howes, 44, denied using his chemical company as a front for the sale of substances used to produce the Class A drug methamphetamine, or crystal meth.

He also claimed not to know the chemicals, red phosphorous and iodine, were being used to make the drug in the US even though he had a recipe for it on his computer.

Howes and Kerry-Ann Shanks, 29, are fighting extradition to the US, where authorities want to try them on 82 charges. Both deny wrongdoing.

At an extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Howes said he had lived in Texas and Arkansas for four years, but returned to the UK in 1994. The couple moved to Bo-ness, West Lothian, in 2005 and ran the business from Grangemouth, until their 2007 arrest.

Howes said the online chemical business had made $133,000 (67,000) over a three-year period, and said chemicals he bought for 60p were sold for 20, a 1,500 per cent mark-up.

If convicted in the US, the pair could face 20 years in jail.

The hearing continues.