In a significant crackdown, Metropolitan Police detectives have successfully dismantled a drug distribution network operated by a group of semi-professional footballers. The gang, responsible for conspiring to supply cocaine and ketamine with an estimated street value between £208 million and £260 million, faced justice at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 17 May.
Sentencing and Defendants
The members of the gang were handed substantial sentences totaling over 104 years after all pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply controlled Class A drugs (cocaine) and Class B drugs (ketamine). The sentences were as follows:
- Adam Pepara, 35, of Wharf Lane, Solihull, received a 29-year sentence, later reduced to 24 years.
- Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, 29, of Delgarno Gardens, North Kensington, was sentenced to 26 years and six months, reduced to 18 years and nine months.
- Jamarl Joseph, 28, of Lily Gardens, Wembley, received a sentence of 26 years and six months, later reduced to 17 years and six months.
- Andrew Harewood, 34, of Woodhurst Road, North Acton, was initially sentenced to 24 years and six months, which was reduced to 16 years and one month.
- Melchi Emanuel-Williamson, 29, of Wesley Avenue, North Acton, received a 21-year and six-month sentence, reduced to 14 years.
- Luke Skeete, 36, of Evergreen Drive, West Drayton, was sentenced to 22 years and six months, reduced to 13 years and one month.
Police Statements and Operation Details
Police Constable Perry from Specialist Crime North described the nature of the operation:
“The operation we’ve dismantled here is not some minor undertaking, involving a group of chancers – this is a highly organised criminal group who were supplying drugs on an industrial scale throughout the UK.”
He emphasized the impact of their actions and the deterrent effect of their sentences:
“The sentences received reflect the gravity of what they had been doing. This is a criminal group who had otherwise promising careers – semi-pro footballers with other jobs and courses they were undertaking – but they were motivated by making money from drugs that fuel misery and violence on our streets.”
Detective Constable Janes, also from Specialist Crime North, detailed the pivotal moment in the investigation:
“With Skeete’s arrest we brought this house of cards down. After he was detained we secured valuable evidence on his mobile phone, helping us launch another investigation that led to us identifying his conspirators.”
Extensive Drug Operations
During the focused period of investigation from April 10, 2022, to October 20, 2022, the group conspired to distribute over 2.7 tonnes of high-grade cocaine across the UK. The street value of these drugs ranged from approximately £208.16 million to £260.2 million, highlighting the immense scale and impact of their operations.
Evidence and Investigation Insights
Luke Skeete, previously sentenced in July 2023 for related drug offenses, played a central role in the network. His arrest in October 2022 while driving a van containing 8kg of cocaine marked the beginning of the end for the operation. Further investigations led to the seizure of 123kg of cocaine and 224kg of ketamine from storage units under his control.
The group used sophisticated methods to disguise their identities and operations, employing secure messaging platforms and careful coordination to distribute drugs across the UK. Met Police detectives dedicated countless hours to examining CCTV footage and other evidence, which showed frequent visits to the storage units where drugs were stored in holdalls and boxes.
Conclusion
As this case closes a chapter on a significant criminal operation, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and the importance of continued vigilance in the fight against drug-related crime. The successful dismantling of this network underscores the capabilities and resolve of law enforcement agencies to tackle high-level criminal enterprises.
Source: Metropolitan Police
