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Drug moguls from Tonbridge and Greenhithe jailed as part of Met Police investigation

Two men have been jailed for 26 years between them for their parts in an organised crime network.

Paul Clarke, of Horns Lodge Lane, near Tonbridge, and John O' Brien, of Bean Road, in Greenhithe, were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court last Thursday following a two-year investigation by the Met, named Operation Edge.

John O’Brien, 69, of Bean Road, Greenhithe was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. Picture: Met Police
John O’Brien, 69, of Bean Road, Greenhithe was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. Picture: Met Police

They were sentenced alongside the head of the gang, Matthew Harrod, of Kingsway, in Hove, who received 22 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis.

Clarke, 45, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty on March 12 to conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis and possession of criminal property – namely £20,000.

O' Brien, 69, was handed an 11-year sentence after he pleaded guilty on the same date to conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis.

Harrod played the leading role in the gang, directing other co-conspirators.

Clarke acted as Harrod's lieutenant and O'Brien was just below Clarke in the chain of command.

Paul Clarke, 45, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Picture: Met Police
Paul Clarke, 45, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Picture: Met Police

Clarke would direct O'Brien and other co-conspirators.

Both organised the supply of Class A drugs between July 2018 to January 2020 and had substantial links to others within the organisation.

Detective Superintendent (DS) Neil Ballard, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "Today's sentences conclude a two-year operation tackling the import and distribution of 31kg of cocaine, 308kg of amphetamine, 590kg of cannabis resin, 3kg of skunk or herbal cannabis, 30 cannabis plants and nearly £900,000 in cash.

"We believe that these figures represent a fraction of their trade.

Amphetamine that was seized on July 9 2020. Picture: Met Police
Amphetamine that was seized on July 9 2020. Picture: Met Police

"A snapshot of Taylor's encrypted device demonstrated insight into a typical day of the conspiracy in action, namely 30 deliveries and possession of £750,000 in cash.

"We are confident that taking into account the span of the entire conspiracy network known to us, the similarity of crates and industrial scales found at different addresses, the repeated meetings between co-conspirators and quantity of mixing or cutting agents, the quantity of controlled drugs involved was valued in the millions of pounds."

The men were sentenced alongside nine others, on top of 11 other co-conspirators who had already been inprisoned.

In total, the 23 individuals were given 138 years and five months behind bars.

A quantity of cash that was seized on January 14 2020 as part of the Met's two year investigation. Picture: Met Police
A quantity of cash that was seized on January 14 2020 as part of the Met's two year investigation. Picture: Met Police

Concluding, DS Neil Ballard said: "I really hope this result shows the dedication of the Metropolitan Police and our law enforcement partners to tackle the supply and sale of lethal drugs in London and the UK, which we know is closely linked to violence in our communities.

"In the Met, disrupting serious organised crime and violence is at the top of our agenda and we will be relentless in our pursuit of anyone who looks to capitalise or profit from illicit drugs supply."

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge

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