From top: L – R – Xhulio Haidare, Peter Jones, Robert Wylie and Michael Xenofontos. From bottom: L-R – Chase Moore, Gary Fox, Majkelli Pire and Ilir Krasniqi (yet to be sentenced)]]
Seven out of eight men who were part of a conspiracy to supply cocaine with a street value of £7 million in areas of London, Essex and the South East of England have been jailed for a total of 60 years.
The eighth man will be sentenced at a later date.
Officers from Metropolitan Police Organised Crime Command, working with colleagues from Kent Police, uncovered the drug supply network during a seven-month investigation.
Between September 2015 and April 2016, police arrested and charged 16 individuals, recovering approximately 70 kilos of cocaine with a purity ranging from 70 to 91 per cent.
A further 26 kilos of a cutting agent, Benzocaine, was also recovered.
A drugs ledger found at the home address of Peter Jones, described as one of the group leaders, revealed details of completed cocaine deals and earnings running into millions of pounds.
As well as Jones, IIir Krasniqi and Xhulio Haidare were also identified as leading figures in the distribution of the cocaine.
Majkelli Pire, a trusted companion of Krasniqi and Haidare, managed a number of ‘safe houses’ in Essex, where the cocaine was stored prior to distribution.
Robert Wylie, Gary Fox, Chase Moore and Michael Xenofontos were closely linked to the group’s leaders and entrusted with the storage and distribution of the drugs.
Jones, Krasniqi, Haidare, Fox, Pire, Moore and Xenofontos all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, 18 August.
Robert Wylie also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply 36 Kilos of cocaine and possessing a prohibited article (pepper spray) at a previous hearing.
On Friday, 9 December, at Kingston Crown Court, the men were sentenced as follows:
Peter Jones, 29 (3.6.87) of Main Road, Margaretting, Essex, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Xhulio Haidare, 35 (21.12.81) of Codham Hall Lane, Brentwood, was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.
Robert Wylie, 39 (10.08.77) of Maltings Lane, Orsett, Essex, was sentenced to eight years and eight months imprisonment.
Gary Fox, 56 (6.10.62) of Dendridge Close, Enfield, EN1, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Majkelli Pire, 21 (17.8.95) of Grasmead Avenue, Leigh on Sea, Essex, was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment.
Chase Moore, 33 (12.03.83) Columbia Road, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Michael Xenofontos, 46 (22.10.70) of Sutton Road, Southend on Sea, was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Ilir Krasniqi, 34 (16.10.82) of Codham Hall Lane, Brentwood, will be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Inspector Ian Gibson, of the Met’s Organised Crime Command (OCC), said:
“This well-established group conspired together to import and distribute large amounts of cocaine throughout London and the Home Counties. The evidence gathered and presented by police was overwhelming, leading to guilty pleas from those involved at all levels of the supply chain.
The complete dismantling of this group has stopped the supply of a significant amount of drugs on the streets of London. The substantial custodial sentences handed down by the court should act as a deterrent to those involved in criminal and gang related activity.
The Metropolitan Police has a zero tolerance approach to drug supply and we will continue to target those causing harm to London’s communities.”
Previously another eight people were convicted and sentenced in connection with the investigation.