Unemployed drug kingpin and receptionist girlfriend jailed over 12m money laundering operation

"Samuel De Vere-Hunt, 30, was responsible for laundering over 6 million in cash and supplying hundreds of kilos of MDMA, ketamine and cannabis destined for London. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court on Friday. His girlfriend and accomplice Rosie Wise, 25, was sentenced to one year and nine months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Metropolitan Police officers conducted a thorough investigation, painstakingly trawling through thousands of messages on encrypted communication service EncroChat."

""Investigating De Vere-Hunt was like finding a needle in a haystack. He has been brought to justice today thanks to thorough detective work which was able to identify him as the owner of two Encrochat handles. Ultimately leading us to his house in Essex where he had over 33kg of Class A and B drugs. "This investigation shows the Met's relentless pursuit of organised crime and displays a key data-led approach to tackling offenders."

Samuel De Vere-Hunt, 30, laundered over 6 million in cash and supplied hundreds of kilos of MDMA, ketamine and cannabis destined for London. Officers found more than 160,000 in cash in a carrier bag and recovered over 33kg of Class A and B drugs at his home. De Vere-Hunt was identified through encrypted EncroChat messages and linked via phone data and food delivery records to accomplice Rosie Wise. Wise, 25, received a suspended sentence while De Vere-Hunt received 12 years' imprisonment. Metropolitan Police reported a 63% rise in organised gang disruptions, exceeding 21,230 incidents.

Read at www.standard.co.uk