Rickmansworth man jailed for role in £1 billion drugs gang

Jonathan Whitley, 56, of Park Road, was given 10 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering.

12 men were brought to justice and jailed for a total of 195 years, after a four-year National Crime Agency probe uncovered a network that brought more than a billion pounds worth of drugs into the country.

Detectives from the Met first began investigating the west-London based gang, headed up by Paul O’Brien and Lee Mortimer, in 2020.

On May 29, 2020, after conducting surveillance on a known gang member, Met officers intercepted a drugs exchange between O’Brien, Mortimer and other members of the gang.

Paul O’Brien and Lee Mortimer. (Image: Met Police)

A series of arrests followed, and officers seized more than 160kgs of cocaine as well as £1 million in cash and other high value assets, including vehicles and jewellery.

That investigation allowed Met officers to identify members of another drug-dealing gang operating in Greater Manchester and led by Jonathan Strogylos.

With help from the National Crime Agency, officers accessed the network’s encrypted EncroChat messages, which revealed that the gang imported more than 8.5 tonnes of cocaine, with a value of more than £1 billion, between 2017 and 2020.

Working in partnership with Essex police, Met officers were later able to make a further series of arrests and seize another 138kg of cocaine and 8kgs of heroin, which had been imported via the Harwich port.

Police seized more than £1 billion worth of cocaine and heroin. (Image: Met Police)

Detective Chief Superintendent Ella Marriott, head of the London Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "This is an investigation that demonstrates how Met officers are going above and beyond to make London safe by removing drug dealers from the capital and other parts of the UK.

"This is community crime-fighting at its best, removing offenders who impact the lives of those around them.

"We’ve seen time and time again that the supply of drugs has devastating consequences on communities across the country. It causes addiction, has devastating health impacts and leads to anti-social behaviour and violence.

"That is why we are determined to crack down on drugs and the gangs that exploit vulnerable people, while also working with partners to support drug users through addiction.

"This investigation should serve as a message to criminals and gang members bringing drugs onto our streets - we will come after you and we will bring you to justice."

NCA Branch Commander Martin Clarke added: "The NCA were able to work in collaboration with the Met to share information which enabled us to identify and dismantle this organised crime group in its entirety.

"The criminal network was international in its scope, with connections to drug suppliers across the globe. Our work with the Met has resulted in significant custodial sentences for the gang’s members, and demonstrates our commitment to do all we can with our law enforcement partners to protect the public by targeting the organised criminal networks causing most harm to the UK."

Cash seized from the gang following their arrests. (Image: Met Police)

The following men were jailed for their role in the gang:

• Paul O’Brien, 57, of Bourn Avenue, Uxbridge was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, November 3, 2023 for conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin.
• Lee Mortimer, 40, of Glenhurst Avenue, Ruislip was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, November 3, 2023 for conspiracy to supply cocaine and for money laundering.
• Marcus Elmer, 52, of Riverbank Point, Uxbridge was sentenced to 15 years and six months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, November 3, 2023 for conspiracy to supply cocaine and for money laundering.
• Jonathan Whitley, 56, of Park Road, Rickmansworth was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, November 3, 2023 for conspiracy to supply cocaine and for money laundering.
• Anthony Sheehan, 37, of Hilltop Close, Ascot was sentenced to four years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
• Marcin Jadasz, 47, of Poland, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, November 3, 2023 for conspiring to import cocaine and heroin into the UK.
• Jonathan Strogylos, 36, of Cheltenham Road, Stockport was sentenced to 31 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 for conspiring to import and supply cocaine.
• Matthew Parsons, 38, of Bury Old Road, Manchester was sentenced to 29 years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, June 29, 2023 for conspiracy to supply & import cocaine.
• Paul Shaw, 38, of Kirkstone Drive, Manchester was sentenced to 17 years and nine months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, September 30, 2022 for conspiracy to supply and import cocaine.
• Liam Cherrett, 45, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to nine years and two months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, June 14, 2024 for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
• John Maguire, 65, of Golborne Avenue, Manchester was sentenced to 16 years and 11 months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, July 26, 2024 for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
• Ross Maguire, 36, of Bideford Road, Manchester was sentenced to seven years and seven months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, June 2, 2023 for conspiracy to supply cocaine.