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“We’re gonna hit the jackpot!” - Trio used removal firm as cover for lockdown drug smuggling enterprise

Three men who plotted to use a removal firm as a front for their drug smuggling operation have been convicted following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Mark Youell, 64, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, conspired along with Alfred Rumbold, aged 65, from Orpington, Kent, and removal driver Brian Wright, 73, from Folkestone, Kent, to import around 55 kilos of class A drugs across spring and summer 2020.Trio in question facing forward.

However, they were unaware that they were the subjects of a covert investigation by the NCA, with officers tracing their movements and recording their conversations. 

During the period of the conspiracy, the trio had a series of clandestine meetings with a Merseyside-based organised crime group who wanted to import class A drugs utilising Rolls Royce-driving Wright’s legitimate removals company.

Covert listening devices deployed by the NCA picked up a conversation at a meeting at a café in Kent in July 2020 where they were heard discussing border controls. Youell told Rumbold and Wright:  “We’re gonna hit the jackpot” and that they were going to make “f***ing mega dough”.

The previous day Wright had returned from conducting a ‘dummy run’, taking his lorry out to The Netherlands. He made a series of notes around border checks and security on his phone as he returned.

The following week Wright made the run for real, collecting the drugs, which had been sealed inside fish tanks.

However, as part of a joint operation involving the NCA and Dutch law enforcement, the truck was raided just outside Utrecht. Wright, who was sleeping inside, was arrested. 

The drugs were seized from their hiding place, with Dutch police recovering 20.5 kilos of heroin, 32 kilos of cocaine and three kilos of MDMA. NCA experts say the haul would have had a UK street value of around £4.5 million.

At the same time NCA officers moved in on Youell and Rumbold, arresting them at their home addresses. Phones seized included a number of Encrochat and Sky ECC encrypted devices.

Encrochat messages attributed to Rumbold by the NCA as part of Operation Venetic – the UK law enforcement response to the takedown of the platform – showed that he was discussing with numerous criminals the potential to move drugs across Europe using Wright’s firm.

Both Youell and Rumbold denied drug importation charges, claiming they had only been seeking to smuggle alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco and cannabis.

Wright, following his extradition from the Netherlands, denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming he was just transporting furniture.

Following a seven-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court, all three men were recently (Friday 19th November) found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. They will be sentenced on 26th November.

NCA Regional Head of Investigations Peter Stevens recently said:

“This conspiracy involved a significant amount of drugs which were destined for the streets of the UK, where they would have been distributed by criminal gangs involved in violence and exploitation.

“Through the NCA’s covert investigation into their activities we were able to prove the crime group stood to make huge profits for themselves.

“This investigation also shows the benefit of international co-operation when it comes to stopping drug supply, which is a priority for the NCA. I’m grateful for the support of our Dutch partners in securing these convictions.”

 

Channel website: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/

Original article link: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/we-re-gonna-hit-the-jackpot-trio-used-removal-firm-as-cover-for-lockdown-drug-smuggling-enterprise

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