Jail for the ‘coke in yams’ smugglers

Five drug dealers who coloured cocaine orange to smuggle it into the UK disguised as fruit have been jailed for a total of more than 38 years.

The 2kg of crack rocks were discovered in bags of dried fruit and nuts labelled ‘Fancy Island Mix’ when police stopped Barrington Bennett, 58, on 13 January 2015.

Luis Restrepo, 40, and Jarnail Singh, 39, were arrested the following day after officers discovered nearly 40kg of herbal cannabis disguised as yams.

Two futher 36kg and 40kg shipments of the fake yams destined for electrician Tazio Heath, 24, were seized at Gatwick Airport and he was arrested on 12 May 2015 after 25kg of the drug was delivered to a Southall freight company.

The probe linked Heath with Donovan Bailey, 50, who owns a recording studion in Reading, where 22 rolls of cannabis wighing 1.8kg was found.

The five were jailed for more than 38 years at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to various drugs importation and drugs supply offences.

DC Catherine Pearson, from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘This police operation successfully dismantled a sophisticated crime network that was regularly importing drugs into the UK disguised as food.

‘Jarnail Singh and Tazio Heath were central to this criminal network that had gone to great lengths to conceal cocaine as papaya pieces and hide cannabis inside fake yams, in a clear bid to evade detection by UK Border Force.

‘The gang demonstrated their sophistication by using encrypted mobile devices in a bid to frustrate any police investigation but despite their efforts, we were still able to piece together enough evidence to leave them little choice other than to plead guilty at court.’

Singh, of Clayhall Avenue, Ilford was sentenced to a total of 19 years’ imprisonment for to conspiracy to import Class A and B drugs.

Heath, of Turkey Street, Enfield pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was sentenced to a total of seven years’ imprisonment.

Restrepo, of Beresford Road, Canonbury, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was jailed for seven years.

Bailey, of Palmer Park Avenue, Reading, admitted conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Bennett, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was sentenced on 2 December 2016 to three years and nine months’ imprisonment.