A SOUTHAMPTON couple smuggled kilos of drugs into the UK using specially encrypted phones and earning thousands of pounds each month, a court heard.
The pair, who operated alongside another man, supplied a total of 7.55kg of cocaine and 26kg of cannabis.
Prosecuting, Rebecca Austin told how between April and May 2020, their income increased from £103,000 to around £190,000.
Glen Hewes, Cassandra Potter and Malcolm Floyd were hauled before Southampton Crown Court on Friday for their role in the conspiracy.
Hewes, 52, of Telegraph Road, West End, negotiated deals worth tens of thousands of pounds as well as the laundering cash.
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His partner, Potter, 32, also of Telegraph Road was aware of the criminal activities and used the Encrochat phone network to help supply cannabis.
The court heard how Floyd, 53, of Shepperton, Surrey, had a leading role in the “commercial” enterprise with close links to the importation of drugs into the UK.
The trio were foiled when in June 2020, Encrochat was infiltrated by police.
All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis with Floyd and Hewes also pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Mitigating for Floyd, Kieran Vaughan said his client had financial difficulties and had been living in an annexe in his mother’s garden.
“He had a number of debts owing. He was addicted to alcohol, addicted to drugs, addicted to eating too much and addicted to gambling.
“He saw this as an easy chance to repay [his debts],” he said.
Meanwhile, Paul Walker, representing Hewes accepted his client held a significant role.
Furthermore, he had been threatened after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis in 2011.
Rebecca Fairbairn added that Potter had suffered difficulties in her past making her vulnerable.
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Judge Christopher Parker KC said: “Each of you had a very different role. Each of you have very different personal mitigation. Each of you entered guilty pleas.”
Floyd was jailed for a total of eight years and five months and made subject to a serious crime prevention order to run for five years from his release.
Hewes was jailed for seven years and two months.
Potter was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years.
She must spend four months on curfew and attend 35 rehabilitation activity days.
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