By James Simons-
A ringleader of a gang involved in the smuggle of £7 million worth of cocaine into the UK stashed under the seats of a helicopter, has been jailed for more than 17 years.
50 year old Frederic Fagnoul, from Fennieres, Belgium, was part of a criminal scheme in which over 50kg of the class A drug was masked in a secret compartment in the aircraft and flown from Calais, France to Kent. Cops from Bromley in South East London stopped a Nissan Qashqai driven by Fagnoul’s associate John Bolter, and discovered 20kg of cocaine stashed in a secret compartment, as well as an encrypted mobile phone.
Fagol had rented a helicopter and pilot to take him to Lydd airport and from there to hotels with helipads, where the stash would be passed on to other gang members who would drive the haul to dealers across the net. At Southwark Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for 17 1/2 years after admitting conspiracy to import class A drugs and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Investigators from Scotland Yard and the National Crime Agency busted the drugs ring in September 2017.
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Fagal and his associates, booked the plush Eastwell Manor Hotel and Spa in Ashford and Chilston Park Hotel, Maidstone, where they planned to smoothly execute their plans. However, their plans were soon to be aborted.
Bolter, 36, of Effort Street, Tooting, was jailed for seven and a half years for possession with intent to supply cocaine, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs, which he had previously admitted.
A third associate of the ringleader, 37 year old Dean Francis,of Knighton Park Road, Lewisham, south east London, was also caught red handed, collecting drugs from Fagnoul and admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He is due to be sentenced on Thursday.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Gallagher said: “Detailed detective work identified the significant roles these defendants played in the supply of millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK.” The drug bust will cause disruptions to a chain of drug supplies and cash inflow, and may even lead to some members of the gang or their associates being held accountable for the seized drugs.
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