‘Luxury lifestyle’ heroin dealer jailed for 20 years

The leader behind an organised drugs network that attempted to sell over 300 kilos of heroin worth £23 million has been jailed for 20 years.

Marvin Campbell, 32, from Hackney, was sentenced on April 8 for conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to launder money at Inner London Crown Court.

The 18-month investigation had already seen 10 other members of the gang handed down significant sentences for their part in the conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. All 11 defendants had pleaded guilty to their offences at earlier hearings.

The drugs were seized during raids at addresses in Forest Gate, Edmonton, Elephant and Castle, Wembley, and Hackney.

Campbell was responsible for controlling and directing the sale of the drugs, with many of the other members referring to him as ‘Uncle’.

The court heard Campbell enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury cars including a Bentley, a Mercedes and an Audi S5. He wore Rolex and Audemars Piguet watches valued at £62,500 and diamond-encrusted jewellery worth £88,000. Officers recovered £120,000 in cash from his house.

As well as material items, Campbell was known to frequently splash out on expensive meals at high-class restaurants in Harrods and Claridges. On a number of occasions he had also holidayed in luxury in the USA.

Kyle Johnson, a 26-year-old ex-boyfriend of the singer Charlotte Church, was jailed for 12 years in 2009 for heroin possession with intent. Police identified him as the safe-house keeper and drug courier.

Detective Inspector Colin Stephenson, from the Met’s Central Task Force East, said: ”This was one of the most significant drugs seizures by the Met in recent times, and has seriously disrupted a major criminal network engaged in the wholesale supply of heroin and cocaine.

“The result is the culmination of a long-term and complex investigation which successfully removed a major consignment of class A drugs from the streets, and made a significant dent in the availability of heroin across the capital. Seizures of this scale prevent criminals from profiting and in turn, impact the wider harm that comes from the illegal drugs trade”

A financial investigation into the group is under way.

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