International conspiracies to import and supply drugs, firearms and money laundering

Luton Crown Court 2021

Harewood Law acted for a principal defendant in a case concerning international drugs conspiracies to import and supply class A and B drugs, associated money laundering, and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition. The case was prosecuted and investigated by officers of the Organised Crime Partnership - a collaboration between the National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police.

The prosecution alleged that the client was a key participant in the drugs conspiracies, importing and then supplying class A and B drugs nationwide. A large scale cannabis factory was also discovered in the UK. It was alleged that millions of pounds in cash were moved between international jurisdictions. The case relied heavily on telephonic evidence, including Encrochat devices.

As a result of a series of successful disclosure requests and representations made by the defence team, the prosecution reviewed the case against the client five days into the trial and ultimately offered no evidence on the five conspiracy counts, both importing and supplying, indicted against the client.

To achieve this successful outcome, the defence had to challenge the evidence in these key areas, with the assistance of expert witnesses:

• Telephone and Cell Site evidence

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data

• Forensic and DNA evidence

• Covert recordings and surveillance

• Firearms evidence

• Financial Evidence

• Drugs analysis

• CCTV and Imagery

• Computer and digital forensics

Narita Bahra QC and Hannah Thomas of 2 Hare Court were instructed.