Eight organised crime gangsters who helped supply a TONNE of cocaine and laundered £24million are jailed for combined 110 years
- A drugs gang has been jailed for a total of 110 years for supplying cocaine
- The gang supplied 1,000 kilos of cocaine and 50 kilos of heroin in the UK
- Members of the gang also laundered £24 million worth of cash in nine months
Eight members of an organised crime gang involved in supplying a tonne of cocaine, and laundering £24 million, were jailed on Friday for a total of 110 years.
The gang members were jailed following an extensive investigation by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).
Judge Francis Sheridan sentenced them at Aylesbury Crown Court, sitting at Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
The court heard that the group used an encrypted communications platform to supply of 1,000 kilos of cocaine, 50 kilos of heroin and launder £24 million of criminal proceeds between January and September 2020.
The drugs gang supplied 1,000 kilos of cocaine, 50 kilos of heroin and laundered £24 million cash
The court heard the gang ordered huge quantities of cocaine from abroad to sell it in the UK
Specialist officers from SEROCU began investigating in April 2020 after the encrypted EncroChat platform was taken down as part of a huge international law enforcement operation.
Data from the network, which was used by criminals worldwide to candidly discuss the illegal exploits, revealed the sheer scale of the group’s criminality.
The network, headed up by Sandeep Rao, ran their criminal operation from an apartment in Rutland Street, High Wycombe.
The premises, identified by police as the ‘safe house,’ was used to store multi-kilo qualities of cocaine as well as to process and stockpile millions of pounds of criminal proceeds.
Judge Sheridan heard that Rao worked directly with a supplier in Dubai, ordering cocaine on a weekly basis and arranging the onwards supply throughout the UK via an extensive network of customers.
A spokesman for SEROCU said on Friday: ‘Shahzad Hussain, the right-hand man of Rao, controlled the safe house and operated high-end money counting machines in order to process the vast amounts of money being generated by the group’s extensive drugs supply.
‘He oversaw a network of couriers who were dispatched on a daily basis delivering huge quantities of cocaine and collecting vast sums of money. Hussain was also head of the group’s heroin distribution.
Sandeep Rao was identified as the ringleader of the gang, ordering cocaine from Dubai
The court heard Shahzad Hussain was Rao’s right-hand man in organising the drug sales
‘Edwin Kapoor operated as a deputy for Rao and Hussain and was involved in the supply of cocaine and heroin and assisted with the organisation, deployment and payment of couriers.
‘Hardev Thind was a trusted courier of the group, responsible for conveying cocaine, heroin, MDMA and criminal money on a regular basis. He was also identified as being responsible for buying the money counting equipment.
‘Azher Hussain was a courier, counter and caretaker of the cash and occupied a significant role within the safe house. He was found to have to have laundered no less than £1 million of the proceeds from the supply of Class A drugs.
‘Raj Seechurn was another courier, responsible for the transportation of wholesale quantities of drugs and cash to and from other associated organised criminals.
‘He was arrested on May 14 2020 and found to be in possession of seven kilos of cocaine which he had attempted to conceal within his vehicle.
‘Iain Harper purchased kilo quantities of cocaine from the criminal network and arranged for their onwards distribution within Essex. Harper was found to have purchased at least 18 kilos from Rao’s network.
‘Angela Harvey was a cash courier, conveying large sums of money between the home addresses of the organised criminal network and the safe house. She was found to have to have laundered £200,000 of the proceeds from the supply of Class A drugs.’
A spokesman for SEROCU said: ‘Edwin Kapoor (pictured) operated as a deputy for Rao and Hussain’
Azher Hussain was a ‘courier, counter and caretaker of the cash’, SEROCU said on Friday
Sandeep Rao, 47, was sentenced to 24 years and two months’ imprisonment and was given a Serious Crime Prevention Order. He admitted conspiring to supply a Class A drug – cocaine, and conspiracy to possess criminal property at a previous court hearing.
Shahzad Hussain, 50, was sentenced to 23 years and seven months’ imprisonment and was given a similar order. He admitted conspiring to supply a Class A drug – cocaine, conspiring to supply a Class A drug – heroin, and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Edwin Kapoor, 48, was jailed for 18 years and 11 months, while Hardev Thind, 44, was sentenced to 14 years and two months’ imprisonment.
Raj Seechurn, 41, was sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment to run consecutively to the six years and six month prison sentence already imposed as part of the investigation. He admitted conspiring to supply a Class A drug.
Azher Hussain, 53, was sentenced to four years and one month in jail.
Iain Harper, 33, was sentenced to 15 years and nine months’ imprisonment. He admitted conspiring to supply a Class A drug – cocaine, conspiring to supply a Class A drug – MDMA and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
SEROCU said Herdev Thind (pictured) was a courier for the group which helped to supply drugs
A spokesperson for SEROCU said: ‘Iain Harper (pictured) purchased kilo quantities of cocaine from the criminal network and arranged for their onwards distribution within Essex’
Angela Harvey, 39, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years along with 120 hours community service and given a 15 month driving disqualification.
These sentences follow that of Veshal Madlani who was jailed for five years and three months’ imprisonment on October 21 this year for his role within the criminal conspiracy.
Investigating officer Detective constable Dale Lester, of SEROCU, said: ‘This organised crime group operated at the highest level – with members involved in the supply of vast quantities of Class A drugs across the United Kingdom.
‘While many members of the group used encrypted devices to arrange their criminal exploits, believing they would not be detected, their plans to profit from others’ misery were halted by police.
‘The impact of their crime’s filters through communities up and down the country as we know the devastating impact and widespread harm of drug use and addiction can have on people. Put simply, the actions of those who supply drugs, destroys many lives.’
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