Organised crime gang caught in Sussex with 30 boxes of drugs

Around 70kg of cocaine and 632kg of ketamine were seized from two vans which were stopped on the A26 at Maresfied, near Uckfield, last July 26.

The Class A and B substances, stored in 30 cardboard boxes, had been shipped into the UK by lorry driver Pavel Budzko who travelled into Newhaven port by ferry and had an estimated street value of around £24.5 million. 

From there, it was arranged for the drugs to be transported into the back of two vans at a secluded location nearby.

The Ford Transit Connect was driven by Charlotte Moore, 32, and Stephen Norris, 36, was the passenger. The Vauxhall Combo was driven by Abdul Soohraby.

Charlotte Moore was driving a van to transport the drugs (Image: Sussex Police)

All three were arrested and remanded in custody as the case was investigated Sussex Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (Socu) and the drugs and vehicles were seized.

Budzko had evaded police but was arrested when he entered the UK again on September 28. He was also remanded in custody.

In the meantime, officers conducted enquiries with the National Crime Agency (NCA), which revealed another overseas drugs run had been attempted by Moore and Norris just two months before their arrests.

The boxes in the van (Image: Sussex Police)

In May 2023, Border Force officials intercepted a number of packages at Calais Eurotunnel terminal on its journey from Belgium into the UK.

The lorry driver on that occasion was Kiryl Laptseu and the packages contained the DNA of Moore and Norris.

Mobile phone analysis placed the couple in Belgium just weeks before the drugs were intercepted in Calais.

Kiryl Laptseu has been jailed (Image: Sussex Police)

During that time, Moore used Google to translate “I am looking for cardboard moving boxes” into French before making two purchases at Ikea on May 3 and 4 2023.

The suspects were subsequently charged as follows, and sentenced when they appeared before Lewes Crown Court (sitting at Hove) on Thursday, June 27:

• Norris and Moore both of Middleburg Street, Hull, were both charged with being concerned in the supply of 70kg cocaine and 632kg ketamine on July 26, and fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 107kg cocaine between April 30 and May 7.
• Norris was found guilty and was sentenced to a total of ten years’ imprisonment.

Norris has been jailed for ten years (Image: Sussex Police)

• Moore was found guilty and was sentenced to a total of 13 years in jail.
• Budzko, 50, of no fixed address, was charged with fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 70kg cocaine and 632kg ketamine on July 26. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to a total of nine years’ imprisonment.
• Laptseu, 42, of no fixed address, was charged with fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 107kg cocaine.

The bags of drugs (Image: Sussex Police)

• He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to nine years in prison.
• Soohraby, 53, of Exeter Drive, Sheffield, was charged with possession with intent to supply ketamine. He pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.

Pavel Budzko evaded police initially but was later arrested and charged (Image: Sussex Police)

Detective Constable Laura Pettitt of Sussex Socu said: “The seizure of this substantial amount of drugs – the largest ever seizure in Sussex – comes as a result of excellent collaborative work between Sussex Police and the NCA.

“The sentences imposed reflect the extremely serious nature of the offences committed, and are a testament to the hard work of all the teams involved from Sussex Police, the NCA and the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Sussex Police will continue to pursue organised crime groups and investigate those involved in the supply of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs cause harm and misery to those that become addicted to them and to their families and friends, often linked to other crimes being committed to fund their addiction. This in turn impacts our wider communities and affects us all as the cost to society remains high.

“Although drug offences are victimless crimes, the way these organised crime groups operate poses a significant risk to vulnerable and young people, who find themselves being dragged into the drugs world and potentially being exploited.”

Rachel Bramley, operations manager at the NCA, said: “These convictions are testament to the collaborative work between the NCA, Border Force and Sussex Police.

“This crime group sought to flood the south of England with drugs all for their own financial gain, without any care for the misery their harmful commodities bring to our communities.

“Drug dealing is directly linked to gang violence and the exploitation of vulnerable people and children across the UK. At the NCA we are committed to pursuing the organised criminals responsible for running drug supply chains and ensuring they have their day in court.”