Canabis smugglers sentenced to 43 years in prison
November 15, 2011
MEMBERS of an organised crime group have today been sentenced to almost 43 years in prison for importing almost three and a half tonnes of cannabis through the Port of Felixstowe.The seven man group trafficked the Class B drug, hidden in electrical goods including air conditioning parts from The Netherlands, over a 12 month period.
Robert Hastie, of Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 14 years. John Hastie, of Brentwood, was sentenced to nine years. Thomas Waldron, of London, was sentenced to four years and 6 months in prison, while David Walford, of Bracknell, was handed a five year sentence.
Another member of the group, Imran Khan, of Slough, and Shakil Nisar, also of Slough, were both handed five years in jail.
The seventh member, James Hodges will be sentenced at a later date.
When sentencing the group, Judge Dodgson said: “This was a massive amount of drugs which had considerable damage to the end user.
“Robert Hastie played a vital role in this sophisticated crime group and showed a total disregard for the law. Only money mattered.”
The SOCA led investigation showed that the criminal organisation was headed up by Hertfordshire-based Robert Hastie, who directed its activity from his luxury home in Goffs Oak.
On 19 November 2009, a consignment of ‘electrical goods’ shipped from The Netherlands was searched by UK Border Agency officials at Felixstowe Port and found to contain 750kg of cannabis packed within 60 heat sealed bags.
SOCA officers substituted the cannabis and followed the load to its delivery address in Thurrock, Essex.
Four of the group were arrested at the scene. Forensic evidence linked the shipment to three others including Robert Hastie and his father John.
SOCA intelligence alerted investigators that a further shipment of 500kgs was to leave The Netherlands. This was intercepted after joint working with the Dutch authorities.
The ensuing 18 month SOCA investigation proved Hastie and his associates had smuggled a total of 3.48 tonnes of cannabis into the UK between December 2008 and November 2009.
After a five week trial the jury at Kingston Crown Court found Robert and John Hastie guilty of conspiracy to import controlled drugs along with two others. The other three men had previously pleaded guilty.
Courtesy of EADT
