Sussex crime group sentenced for drugs supply to USA

The group used products, including beauty products, to ship Class A and Class B drugs via courier services, but most were intercepted in the UK or upon arrival overseas.

Following an investigation by Sussex Police, eight people have been convicted for their role, with the final defendants appearing for sentence at Hove Crown Court earlier this month.

Officers discovered roughly £1 million worth of MDMA inside two holdall bags at a stables in Truleigh Hill, near Shoreham, rented by Jenny Blake in 2019.

Lee Hudson, along with his then partner Laura Burke, were seen visiting the site regularly and, following investigation, Matt Hodgson and Benjamin Beal were also linked to the group.

Records revealed that the group had attempted to post packages to the United States and Australia concealing drugs in bath salts packaging, purchasing 64kg of bath salts in just one month for its packaging.

Alexander Griffin was linked to the group after being observed by officers in central Brighton entering a “stash” vehicle, which contained 4,000 suspected Class A drugs tablets, at a car park at Churchill Square in August 2019. The estimated street value of the drugs was more than £320,000.

Officers saw him interact with brothers Dean and Oliver Mazirel in Cannon Place, Brighton, before they were arrested by police.

Dean Mazirel, 39, a construction worker formerly of Grafton Road in Worthing, and Oliver Mazirel, 35, formerly a landscape gardener of South Street, Tarring, both admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at a hearing in January 2020. They were both sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Alexander Griffin (Image: Sussex Police)

Alexander Griffin, 37, formerly a financial consultant of Ninfield Road, Bexhill, admitted conspiring to fraudulently evade any duty or prohibition, or restriction or provision, contrary to the Criminal Law Act. He was sentenced to six years in prison during a hearing in May last year.

Benjamin Beal (Image: Sussex Police)

Benjamin Beal, 43, formerly a managing director of a property company, of Downland Drive, Hove, was found guilty of conspiring to fraudulently evade any duty or prohibition, or restriction or provision. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

Lee Hudson, 42, formerly a barber, of Manor Fields, Horsham, admitted the same offence and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.

Lee Hudson (Image: Sussex Police)

Jenny Blake, 40, formerly a teacher, of Eaton Road, Hove, admitted participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and was sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison sentence. She must complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

Laura Burke, 33, formerly a child carer, of South Street, Partridge Green, admitted participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and was sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison sentence. She must complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.

Matt Hodgson, 47, unemployed, of Caneheath, Polegate, admitted participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence, 240 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.

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Acting Detective Inspector Ed Bohnet said: “This was an organised group operating to disguise the transport and sale of large quantities of Class A and B drugs from Sussex via courier services.

“Following a thorough investigation, all of the defendants have now been convicted.

“It demonstrates our determination to catch offenders operating in organised groups and to disrupt drug supply which has such a harmful impact on our communities.”