Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office
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23.5 years for boric acid gang
Four men have today been sentenced to a total of 23.5 year imprisonment for their roles in supplying cocaine and related money laundering activities - even though no cocaine was found in the course of an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
What SOCA officers did find was 15 kilos of boric acid, occasionally used as a 'cutting agent' mixed with cocaine to make street supplies go further. Cocaine sold on the street is regularly adulterated in this way, so that the substance sold may contain up to 80% boric acid - a substance with mild disinfectant and insecticidal properties, often used in household laundry and drain-cleaning.
Liz Baker, senior lawyer at the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office said: "Boric acid is not often seen in this context. This successful prosecution shows that together RCPO and SOCA can bring criminals to justice, even when the evidence makes the presentation of a case to a jury more complex than normal. Criminals need to realise that we will not be deterred by such challenges."
The jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found Daniel Davis and Thomas Smith guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering, and Kevin Downes and Paul Leaper guilty on money laundering charges. Davis was sentenced to 11 years, Smith to 6 years, Downes to 5 years and Leaper to 18 months. A timetable for proceedings to confiscate illegally gained assets has been set, with a confiscation hearing fixed for 1 May 2009.
Serious Crime Prevention Orders were granted in respect of Daniel Davis and Kevin Downes. These include the first imposition of restrictions on travel abroad and possession of substances which may be used as cutting agents, as well as the use of bank accounts, credit, mortgages and mobile phones. Any breach of one of these orders may lead to an additional 5 years in prison.
Notes for editors
1. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by Royal Assent on 18 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK.
2. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is an intelligence-led agency formed in April 2006 to tackle Class A drugs and organised immigration crime as top priorities. Other priorities are fraud against individuals and the private sector, hi tech crime, counterfeiting, the use of firearms, serious robbery and recovery of the proceeds of crime. SOCA is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by, but operationally independent from, the Home Office.
3. Daniel DAVIS (19/06/1985) convicted on one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine, and two counts of money laundering. Sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Thomas SMITH (24/04/1985) convicted on one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine, and one count of money laundering. Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
Kevin James DOWNES (24/06/1961) convicted on three counts of money laundering. Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Paul LEAPER (02/04/1979) convicted on one count of money laundering. Sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
4. For further information about the prosecution, please contact Fiona Dick, RCPO Press Office on 0207 147 7746.
