Following a six week trial at Guildford Crown Court our client was acquitted of involvement in a £30m conspiracy to import Cocaine.
In May 2019, as part of Operation Wallace, Spanish police seized a consignment of 1 tonne of Colombian cocaine with an estimate value of £30 million. It was destined for the UK. The defendant was alleged to have provided significant funds to assist the organised crime network in its operations in Spain. An extensive investigation was carried out by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) into individuals in the UK resulting in several defendants being charged with conspiracy to import cocaine. Our client was extradited to the UK from Italy to face trial.
It was agreed that our client provided monies to a member of the criminal network. However, through extensive analysis of the unused material in the case – in particular call data, cell site evidence and banking material – the defence established that the payments made by the defendant were consistent with an entirely separate, parallel criminal operation to launder the proceeds of a revenue fraud.
Our client was the only defendant in the case to be acquitted.
The case was prepared by Mark Bowen and Simon Kopik. Andrew Campbell Teich QC of Drystone Chambers leading Will Martin of 2 Hare Court were instructed counsel on behalf of our client.