The Home Secretary, Michael Howard, was criticized for the decision, and in 2008 Haase and Bennett were convicted of having set up the weapons finds to earn them their release, and sentenced to 20 and 22 years in prison respectively.
He had been in discussions with Haase and Bennett's solicitor, Tony Nelson, who suggested that in return for their providing information, Customs would undertake to bring any help they gave to the notice of the trial judge, so that they could seek a reduced sentence.
[5] The trial judge then wrote privately to the Home Secretary, recommending that he 'exercise the Royal prerogative of mercy' on account of information that the pair had given that had led to the seizure of illegal firearms.
Doubts were expressed by police and Customs and Excise officers as to the authenticity of the information that Haase and Bennett gave, and local Liverpool MP, Peter Kilfoyle campaigned for an investigation.
In March 2001, Kilfoyle was granted a half-hour Adjournment debate in the House of Commons at which he brought up the subject of Haase and Bennett; specifically the damage done to the people of Liverpool by them being allowed back onto the street after such a short period of time in prison, and the basis on which they got out (that is, the Royal pardon they received).
[6] During 2003, it was widely reported that a drug dealer and associate of the two heroin smugglers, Simon Bakerman, who was a cousin of Michael Howard and who openly boasted of his relationship with him, had received a bribe of £400,000 from Haase, which may have been intended to be passed on to the politician.
[7] Merseyside Police now believe that Customs, the trial judge and Howard himself were duped by an elaborate plot by Haase and Bennett, who arranged for the drugs and guns to be planted where the authorities could find them.
I just hope that today the Minister can throw some real light on this sordid saga, so that I can explain to my constituents why it is that these people were allowed out.Following the conclusion of the trial at which the two drug barons received sentences of 20 and 22 years for perverting the course of justice in 2008, Kilfoyle called for an independent enquiry into the issues surrounding the case.