Four smugglers have been sentenced in connection with a significant cocaine bust worth approximately £8m. Jean-Pierre Labelle, Tanvir Hussain, Michael Keating, and his brother Matthew Keating were all handed their sentences at Hove Crown Court last Friday. The illegal drugs were cleverly concealed within foie gras and duck breasts and entered the port of Newhaven, East Sussex, in November 2019 using a transit van. National Crime Agency (NCA) senior officer, Mark Ruff, commended the efforts of Border Force officers in detecting the hidden contraband.
A total of 97 packages of cocaine, each weighing around 1kg, were discovered by authorities in the van that had originated from Dieppe, France. Michael Keating, residing in Uxbridge, Middlesex, was handed a 24-year sentence for his involvement in the importation of cocaine. According to NCA officials, Keating orchestrated the smuggling operation, secured the drugs via international connections, and utilized the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat to coordinate his illicit activities. During a subsequent search of his residence, law enforcement officers seized over £50,000 in cash.
Labelle, based in Ryde, Isle of Wight, received a 17-year prison term for his confessed role in the cocaine importation scheme. Hussain, hailing from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for his involvement. The duo had jointly purchased the van used in transporting the drugs, as confirmed by the NCA. Additionally, the Keating siblings were implicated in a separate conspiracy relating to the attempted importation of 80kg of ketamine, with Matthew Keating of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, receiving a prison sentence of seven years and six months for his role.
Despite the conviction of the aforementioned individuals, James Satterly of Maidenhead, Berkshire, was acquitted of charges related to importing class A drugs in November 2019. Looking ahead, the National Crime Agency affirmed its commitment to combat the drug trade both domestically and internationally. Mr. Ruff emphasized the detrimental impact of the Class A drug trade, citing its contribution to violence and suffering at every stage of its journey into the UK
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