‘Huge’ investigation into class A drugs supply leads to six more people being sentenced

A police investigation into industrial amounts of class A drugs being supplied across the UK has led to six more people being sentenced.

A total of 32 people have now been brought before the courts following the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) investigation which was launched in April 2020 after the encrypted chat platform ‘Encrochat’ was dismantled as part of a huge international law enforcement operation.

The platform had been used to organise and facilitate the supply of multiple kilos of cocaine and heroin, primarily between January and September 2020. Data recovered from the platform was used by officers to show the vast scale of offending which stretched the length and breadth of the UK and across international boundaries.

Large amounts of cash and class A drugs were recovered during police enforcement across 2020 and 2021.

The EMSOU investigation led to 22 people being sentenced in January and four people in June for their involvement.

Today (Friday), five people were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court for their involvement.

Top row from left to right: Hani Mohamed Sadek, Lewis Ball and Richard Paice

Bottom row from left to right: Abusophiyan Malida, Cale Borland

 

• Hani Mohamed Sadek, 44, formerly of Shakespeare Avenue, Denton, Greater Manchester was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)
• Lewis Ball, 33, formerly of St Austell Road, Leicester was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)  
• Richard Paice, 45, formerly of Castleton Avenue, Arnold, Nottinghamshire was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine) and possession with intent to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)
• Abusophiyan Malida, 27, formerly of Sandringham Avenue, Leicester was sentenced to six years and six months imprisonment after previously being found guilty following a trial of conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)
• Cale Borland, 27, formerly of Ratby Road, Groby, Leicestershire was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)

 

Earlier this month, on 11 July:

• Catherine SIMMONS, 37, of Edgecote Drive, Newhall, Nr Swadlincote, Derbyshire was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, with a requirement to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug (cocaine)

 

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed class A drugs had been distributed to a group based in the East Midlands – who have previously been sentenced for their involvement.

The class A drugs which were obtained by this group were subsequently supplied onwards to others by defendants Ball, Borland, and Paice.

Defendant Sadek and Malida acted as couriers for other customers of the drugs which were being supplied.

Defendant Simmons assisted husband Zak Simmons, who has previously been sentenced, in the collection of and payment for Class A controlled drugs.

Detective Inspector Chris Sewell, from EMSOU, said: “This was a huge investigation which ultimately led to large amounts of cash and class A drugs being recovered and a total of 32 people have now been sentenced as part of this investigation.

“Drug offending brings misery and harm to our communities and we will not tolerate it on our streets. We will continue to act on information received and to bring those responsible for drug offending before the courts. If you have any information about drug offending in your community, please do report it to us so that we can take the action needed.

“You can report online at www.leics.police.uk or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

“If you are affected by drugs misuse and want support to make change, you can also contact Turning Point who offer a variety of treatment options and will support you. More information is available at Leicester | Turning Point (turning-point.co.uk) or by calling 0330 3036000.”

Further information on the previous sentencings can be found here:

 

Twenty-two men jailed after encrypted chat platform being used to supply drugs dismantled | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)

 

Four men jailed as part of “huge investigation” into class A drugs supply | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)