The gang was busted as result of Operation Venetic, an investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) into encrypted EncroChat phone messages.
Kingpin Jonathan Strogylos was one of a dozen men involved in the racket. He controlled the importation route, which operated under the guise of importing toner cartridges.
Cocaine was taken to the Netherlands where it was concealed “within printer toner cartridge pallets”.
Strogylos even offered the service to other OCGs (Organised Crime Groups), who would pay a per kilo fee to have their own drugs shipped in the same fashion.
The pallets of toner cartridges were transported to the UK using a courier service, and delivered to an Oldbury Safestore unit near Birmingham that was controlled by the gang.
“The drugs were then distributed from this location,” the Crown Prosecution Service report explained.
“This happened on at least three occasions in 2020. The total quantity of cocaine imported in this way in less than three weeks was at a street value of up to around £132m.”
Giorgina Venturella, special prosecutor at the CPS, said that Strogylos refused to admit his involvement in the OCG.
“The messages uncovered in this case made it clear that the organised crime group, led by Strogylos, had a sophisticated process in place to import and subsequently manoeuvre colossal quantities of cocaine across the UK,” she stated.
“Our Proceeds of Crime team have now commenced confiscation proceedings to ensure the group do not financially benefit from their criminality.”
The twelve men convicted for their involvement were:
Jonathan Strogylos (DOB: 06/11/1987), who was convicted of conspiracies to import and supply cocaine and sentenced to 31 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court last week.
Anthony Sheehan (DOB: 18/09/1986) was sentenced for the supply of drugs after pleading guilty to four years imprisonment. An agreed confiscation order was made on 29 April 2022 at Isleworth Crown Court.
Paul Shaw (DOB: 18/04/1986) pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying drugs and was sentenced to 17 years and 9 months imprisonment.
Paul O'Brien (DOB: 10/12/1966) was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for conspiring to import and supply Class A drugs and concealing criminal property.
Marcus Raymond Elmer (DOB: 09/07/1992) was sentenced to 15 years and 6 months imprisonment for conspiring to import and supply class A drugs.
Lee Mortimer (DOB: 09/07/1983) was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for conspiring to import and supply class A drugs.
Jonathan Whitley (DOB: 01/07/1967) was sentenced to 10 years and one month imprisonment for conspiring to supply cocaine.
Marcin Jadasz (DOB: 03/02/1977) was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for conspiring to import cocaine and heroin.
Matthew Parsons (DOB: 16/11/1985 was sentenced to 23 years and two months imprisonment for conspiring to import and supply cocaine.
Ross Maguire (DOB: 25/05/1988) was sentenced to seven years and seven months imprisonment for conspiring to supply cocaine.
Liam Cherrett pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and was sentenced to nine years and two months imprisonment.
John Patrick Maguire (DOB: 15/05/1959) pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and is awaiting sentencing.
According to information released by Europol last year, the dismantling of the EncroChat cryptotelephone tool widely used by OCGs has resulted in more than 6,500 arrests, with nearly €740m (£627m) in cash seized, and €154.1m frozen in bank accounts or assets. More than 270 estates or homes have also been seized.
