A man from Brent has been jailed for his role in a drug smuggling racket.
Marc Howell was part of a five man gang convicted at Wood Green Crown Court on March 18 of smuggling £24 million worth of cannabis concealed in industrial tubes wrapped up in carpets.
The 45-year-old from Bramshill Road in Harlesden was charged on October 29 with supply of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply ketamine. He pleaded guilty to all three charges.
Other members of the gang, from east London and the Home Counties, were also convicted. They were:
- Martin Henry Beckett, 42, from Dukes Avenue, Theydon Bois, Essex. He was charged with conspiracy to import cannabis and conspiracy to supply cannabis in the United Kingdom. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis in the United Kingdom and, following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court, was found guilty on March 18 of conspiracy to import the drug.
- Lee Jones, 47, from Ongar Road in Fyfield admitted to conspiracy to import cannabis and conspiracy to supply cannabis in the United Kingdom.
- Jonathon Zac Euesden, 44, from Lower Park Road, Loughton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import and supply a class B drug and possession of criminal property.
- Stuart Openshaw, 28, from Wooley Square in Andover, Hampshire, admitted to money laundering, supply of cannabis and supply of cocaine.
The court heard that on September 16 last year, police officers from Waltham Forest intercepted a lorry containing 350kg of skunk cannabis which had arrived in the UK from Holland. It was valued at over £2m.
The drugs were found to be concealed in industrial pipes disguised with carpet rolls. Lee Jones and Martin Beckett were arrested attempting to collect the drugs. Further investigation revealed that Jones had made multiple trips to Holland and purchased materials to build the concealment in Holland and Belgium .
A company called ‘Mogafish Flooring’ was created to purchase and transport the carpets across the continent using legitimate transport companies, with approximately 2.5 tonnes of high grade cannabis imported into the UK in a six month period.
The drugs were take to an Essex warehouse where they were distributed to larger dealers. Marc Howell was arrested on October 28 with 60 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of ketamine and cash of over £10,000 recovered from his home address. Openshaw was arrested shortly after.
DS Tom Mallinson, from Waltham Forest CID, said: “I am delighted with the convictions in this case. It sends out a clear message to those who think importing and supplying Class A and B drugs is a way to earn a living.”
The men will be sentenced at a date yet to be set.
