IT WAS THE TWO packages sent to their address in Lansbury Avenue, Romford, that led to their downfall. The packages, batches of herbal cannabis, sent in December 2015 and April 2016, were intercepted by the National Crime Agency, based at Heathrow Airport.
The National Crime Agency passed the packages on to the Metropolitan Police East Area Command Unit, which launched a full investigation. This led to police from the Whalebone neighbourhood policing team obtaining a warrant and searching the Lansbury Avenue property, where they found a large amount of Class A and Class B drugs and drug related paraphernalia.
As the investigation continued, police found evidence that four family members from that address had sent a total of £133,620.84 to the USA in 80 transactions. Police suspected that these were payments for batches of drugs. UK police advised the US police of the address in the USA where the money had been sent.
The four members of the same family ended up pleading guilty to various drugs charges. On 9th February, they appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where they received the following sentences.
•Sean Jackson, 51, was sentenced to a total of six years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and money laundering.
•Lea Jackson, 47, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years for conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, and transfer or money laundering.
•Levi Smith, 20, was sentenced to 16 months’ detention suspended for two years together with 100 hours of unpaid work for conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and money laundering.
•Tre Smith, 18, was sentenced to six months’ detention suspended for two years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Detective Constable Billy Baxter of the East Area Command Unit, who led the investigation, said, “It is rare to see several members of the same family sentenced for serious drug offences; a crime which blights communities across London.”
•Read more about it: Canning Town gunman charged Council continues crack down on drugs
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