Drugs kingpin locked up over £68m cocaine plot

GANG HID DRUGS IN GAS CANISTERS BUT BUSTED WHEN POLICE CRACKED CODES

- By ROB KENNEDY Court reporter

Kevin Taylor David Jeavons

ORGANISED crime group kingpin Kevin Taylor has been jailed for 27 years for running a £68m plot to flood the North East with cocaine.

Taylor and other members of his gang imported huge amounts of the drug into the country from Europe in gas canisters.

The lucrative plot was busted when the encrypted messaging service they had been using to conduct their illegal business was cracked by French police.

Now Taylor, 43, of Ladybank, Chapel Park, Newcastle, has finally been brought to justice along with other members of the gang.

A court heard Taylor was involved in the importation and supply of more than 200 kilos of cocaine.

A conservative estimate is that would have been enough for 2.75 million half-gram deals. At £50 a gram, that would equate to £68,750,000.

Taylor was described at Newcastle Crown Court as being in charge of the organised crime group that coordinated the importation of cocaine into the UK from Europe and its onward supply within the North East.

He was using the handle “Loyal Mover” on Encrochat and was involved in controlling the collection and movement of large quantities of drugs and cash relating to drugs supply.

David Jeavons, 60, of Bockenfield Country Park, Felton, Northumberland, was described as an “organiser and facilitator” involved in making arrangements for the large shipment of cocaine to be imported and then moved into the North East.

He was known as 'Slick Pearl' on Encrochat.

When he was arrested, £24,000 cash was found in the roof of his caravan in Northumberland.