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01/03/2010
Drug Smuggler Sentenced To 18 Years
A man has pleaded guilty to his part in a £38.5m drug smuggling operation at a retrial.
Robert Flook, 49, was sentenced to 18 years for his role in the crime.
In February 2008 Flook was given 26 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply 150 kilos of cocaine, and 13 years for conspiracy to supply eight tonnes of cannabis to run concurrently.
A retrial was ordered at an appeal hearing at the High Court in June 2009
Flook last week pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to two counts.
He admitted to being concerned in the supply of 8.1 tonnes of cannabis, and attempting to evade the prohibition of a liability of 150 kilos of cocaine
At his original trial the jury heard that Flook was arrested with another man, David Norris, following a joint investigation conducted between the SCD7 Projects team and South African Organised Crime law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on the importation of cocaine and cannabis by British nationals into the UK from South Africa.
Flook was one of the key organisers the network and the jury heard how they started importing drugs in 2001, with similarly sized consignments to those seized in October 2006 being imported undetected.
During Flook's original trial it was shown that the network imported some 11 containers containing cannabis between 2001 and 2006, which based on the quantity seized in September 2006 was valued at £132m wholesale value, with an estimated £308m street value.
In addition the evidence showed the network imported four containers of cocaine with an estimated value of £16m wholesale, or £42m street value, between 2004 - 2006.
Detective Inspector Craig Turner, who led the Met Police's Projects Team operation, said: "Flook's conviction demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who important highly illegal drugs will be brought to justice.
"This case was the result of months of work between law enforcement agencies in the UK and South Africa, and his re-sentence represents the substantial damage these drugs would have caused."
(PR/BMcC)
Robert Flook, 49, was sentenced to 18 years for his role in the crime.
In February 2008 Flook was given 26 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply 150 kilos of cocaine, and 13 years for conspiracy to supply eight tonnes of cannabis to run concurrently.
A retrial was ordered at an appeal hearing at the High Court in June 2009
Flook last week pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to two counts.
He admitted to being concerned in the supply of 8.1 tonnes of cannabis, and attempting to evade the prohibition of a liability of 150 kilos of cocaine
At his original trial the jury heard that Flook was arrested with another man, David Norris, following a joint investigation conducted between the SCD7 Projects team and South African Organised Crime law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on the importation of cocaine and cannabis by British nationals into the UK from South Africa.
Flook was one of the key organisers the network and the jury heard how they started importing drugs in 2001, with similarly sized consignments to those seized in October 2006 being imported undetected.
During Flook's original trial it was shown that the network imported some 11 containers containing cannabis between 2001 and 2006, which based on the quantity seized in September 2006 was valued at £132m wholesale value, with an estimated £308m street value.
In addition the evidence showed the network imported four containers of cocaine with an estimated value of £16m wholesale, or £42m street value, between 2004 - 2006.
Detective Inspector Craig Turner, who led the Met Police's Projects Team operation, said: "Flook's conviction demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who important highly illegal drugs will be brought to justice.
"This case was the result of months of work between law enforcement agencies in the UK and South Africa, and his re-sentence represents the substantial damage these drugs would have caused."
(PR/BMcC)
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