THE trial of three men accused of conspiring to supply drugs in the North-west as part of a sophisticated wholesale distribution operation is under way.

Paul Doughill, aged 33, of Normanby Street, Morris Green, and James Jennings, aged 55, of Watling Street, Affetside, deny the charges.

They are appearing at Liverpool Crown Court with Gerald Deaffern, aged 38, of Sunny Hill Close, Darwen.

He allegedly imported, distributed and then laundered the proceeds of the sale of the drugs through a series of companies which were either controlled by him or by close business associates.

Opening the prosecution case, Raymond Wigglesworth, QC, said evidence against the trio includes testimony from a Bolton man.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told police he had been employed as a courier by a drug dealer, Greg Rothwell. He was introduced to Deaffern in Amsterdam in 2000.

He claims Deaffern told him he and another man were importing one million ecstasy tablets from Holland to the UK.

The man said that on one occasion, they met in Amsterdam where Deaffern agreed to carry drugs concealed in the coil well of trailers hired by Jennings.

He was instructed to transfer the drugs from a van into Deaffern's lorry and supervise the unloading in Blackburn at a warehouse belonging to Jennings.

Mr Wigglesworth alleged that Jennings was present at the warehouse but did not help in unloading the drugs.

Jennings ran a haulage business - Soundwell Ltd - from a warehouse in Manor Sutton Street, Blackburn, and employed Doughill as a driver.

Proceeding