How Lotto winner hid £280m drug lab in cottage

John Spiby, a retired pensioner who appeared to lead a quiet life driving an old white van and tending to his garden, was living a double life that stunned his neighbors. Behind the modest triple garage of his countryside cottage near Wigan, Greater Manchester, the 80-year-old had established a large-scale laboratory producing counterfeit diazepam tablets, operating an illicit empire valued at an estimated £288 million. The revelation came to light in May 2022 when law enforcement raided the property, unveiling not only the extensive drug manufacturing setup but also luxury vehicles that belied his seemingly humble façade.

The modest red brick cottage on a rural lane in Astley had been owned by Spiby since shortly after he won £2.4 million in the lottery back in 2010. It is believed that some of these winnings were used to fund his illegal drug production, drawing parallels to the fictional story of Walter White from the Netflix drama Breaking Bad. Greater Manchester Police uncovered an “industrial-scale tablet manufacturing set-up” within the converted triple garages of the home, where the addictive tranquillisers were produced in large quantities. The garage, once stables, hid a prolific drug operation that was capable of churning out tens of thousands of fake diazepam pills each hour.

Neighbors expressed shock at the discovery, having thought Spiby was an ordinary, quiet retiree with only occasional signs of wealth, such as the times he was spotted driving a red Lamborghini. One local farmer remarked on how the exterior and Spiby’s behavior were misleading: “He drove around in a battered old van and just looked like a normal OAP rather than something out of Breaking Bad… when the police raided his home, they also took away a Lotus and a Porsche as well that he had hidden in his garage along with the drugs equipment.” Other residents described the area as a secluded spot, ideal for keeping illegal activities under wraps, with little foot traffic and privacy between homes.

The police investigation unveiled not only the sophisticated drug lab at Spiby’s cottage but also a second operation in nearby Salford. Authorities seized 2.6 million counterfeit diazepam tablets with a street value exceeding £5 million after stopping a hired van linked to the gang. Additional raids uncovered cash, firearms, and ammunition, painting a picture of a well-organized criminal enterprise. Detectives estimated the cartel’s counterfeit drug output could be worth between £58 million and £288 million on the street. Spiby was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to 16 years and six months for conspiracy to produce and supply Class C drugs, alongside convictions for firearm possession and perverting the course of justice. His son, John Colin Spiby, received a nine-year sentence,

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