Essex drug dealers jailed for international conspiracy

Essex: Three men are facing serious time behind bars for their involvement in a major drug operation. Iain Green, Simon Renoldi, and Matthew Hutchinson were caught up in a scheme that dealt with over a million pounds in cash.

They were busted after police cracked EncroChat, which is a secure messaging service used by criminals. The trio was found guilty of various drug offenses and sentenced at Basildon Crown Court.

Renoldi, 53, got 21 years for supplying cocaine and ecstasy, while Green, 54, received 17 years for similar charges. Hutchinson, 55, was sentenced to 13 years for dealing cocaine and ketamine.

The police investigation revealed that Hutchinson was shipping drugs all the way to New Zealand and Australia. They even found a stash of cash at a local pub and discovered that Renoldi was holding nearly £69,000 there.

During their surveillance, officers saw Renoldi and Green exchanging over £140,000 in cash. It turned out that both Green and Hutchinson owed Renoldi a lot of money.

In a raid, police uncovered £805,000 in cash and 5kg of cocaine at a property in Basildon. Det Insp Yoni Adler from Essex Police expressed satisfaction that the jury saw through the defendants’ lies, emphasizing the extensive work that went into the investigation. This case highlights the serious nature of drug trafficking and the significant sums involved.