The gang’s plans were foiled when a lorry driver tipped off police after stopping for a tea break, unravelling the plot.
asserted
driver → foil → plot
The group were spotted removing large, wrapped packages from the rear of the vehicle and placing them into a transit van - which they had used to block in the lorry.
asserted
they → spot → lorry
At the time, the driver was under the impression that he was transporting 29 pallets of steel furniture parts, which had arrived in a sealed package from Mexico.
asserted
which → transport → Mexico
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Within two hours, officers located the silver Transit van used for the heist, recovering a further 11 holdalls of drugs.
asserted
officers → read → drugs
Met Police officers commenced an extensive operation to trace the thieves and track them even as they switched cars, changed number plates, and falsely reported the van as stolen.
asserted
they → commence → van
The 18 holdalls of cocaine totalled 780kg and had a street value of more than £80 million.
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holdalls → total → million
Financial records uncovered by the Met showed that the group had arrived in Ipswich on the same day the shipment arrived at Felixstowe port on November 12.
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shipment → uncover → November
They had booked rooms at a budget hotel, hired a van, and ordered takeaways to their room.
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They → book → room
They then waited in anticipation for the lorry to leave the haulage yard, trailing it for 125 miles before carrying out the heist.
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lorry → wait → heist
Craig Le-Mare, 36, of no fixed abode, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at the Old Bailey.
asserted
Mare → convict → Bailey
He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Wednesday, 4 November.
asserted
He → sentence → Wednesday
Michael Weston, 57, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine on Friday, 15 March 2024 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
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Weston → plead → Court
He was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison on Friday, 22 May 2026.
uncertain
He → sentence → Friday
Kelly Robertson, 46, of Peregrine Close, Watford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
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Robertson → plead → Court
She was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday, 22 November 2024.
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She → sentence → Friday
Detective Inspector Dean Grafton, who led the Met investigation, said: “This investigation exposed an intricately planned operation, where the defendants hoped to make millions by selling cocaine across the UK.
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defendants → lead → UK
“Officers worked for two years as they meticulously unraveled their operation, conclusively proving their role in the attempted heist.
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they → work → heist
“Drugs fuel criminality and rip families and communities apart.
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Drugs → fuel → families
These sentences prove our relentless determination to pursue organised crime groups and put dangerous criminals in prison.”
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sentences → prove → prison
Assistant Chief Constable Emma James of Northamptonshire Police said: “The discovery of this substantial quantity of cocaine in Northamptonshire led to a significant investigation which ultimately prevented dangerous drugs from reaching communities across the UK.
asserted
which → say → UK
“While the Metropolitan Police led the subsequent investigation, the swift response by Northamptonshire Police officers at the outset helped secure crucial evidence and disrupt the criminal group's plans.
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response → lead → plans
“This investigation highlights the value of effective collaboration between policing partners.
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investigation → highlight → partners
Working alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service, we helped ensure those responsible were identified, brought before the courts and held accountable for their actions.
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those → work → actions
“The harm caused by cocaine extends far beyond those directly involved in its supply and use, fuelling exploitation, violence and wider criminality.
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harm → cause → exploitation
We remain committed to working with our partners to tackle serious organised crime and protect our communities.”
asserted
We → remain → communities
The Aporia
