A BODYBUILDER who ran a multi-million pound international drug smuggling ring from a shop in Bingley was today behind bars in the UK after becoming the first Briton to be extradited from the Philippines.

John Halliday, 33, was flown into Heathrow Airport at 2.35pm yesterday, and was immediately transported to prison to serve his ten year sentence.

He was jailed in his absence in December 2013 after going on the run before his trial.

Halliday was convicted of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to supply synthetic class B drugs, such as M-cat.

He was said to be the ringleader of the £14 million plot, which included selling bodybuilding supplements from a shop in Park Road, Bingley, and importing legal highs after they were criminalised.

Detectives soon became aware that Halliday had fled to the Philippines and a request was submitted early last year for his return.

He was arrested in the Manila area on January 23 and close working between National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice and West Yorkshire Police led to his return to the UK to serve his sentence.

Detective Inspector Neil Hollis, of West Yorkshire Police's Crime Division, said: "Halliday clearly thought he could evade justice when he fled to the Philippines back in September 2013 but this extradition should demonstrate that we will do everything in our power to ensure that convicted criminals serve their time - no matter where they flee.

"Halliday was the ringleader of a sophisticated criminal operation which saw Class B drugs with an estimated street value of £14m smuggled in to the country from China and India via Greece and Germany."