London Drug Kingpin Caught: Aaron Wise Locked Up for 16 Years
The Met have slammed the door shut on a massive London drug ring, jailing its eighth member. Aaron Wise, 33, of Ealing, got a hefty 16-year sentence at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiracy to supply cocaine. The crackdown follows a year-long, high-tech investigation into a ruthless gang peddling coke across west and east London.
Encrypted Chats Exposed, £8 Million Coke Empire Busted
Met detectives, backed by the National Crime Agency, cracked the gang thanks to the EncroChat hack, sifting through four years of phone data. The court heard these criminals flooded London streets with over 100kg of cocaine between 2019 and 2020, worth around £8 million. Wise was the mastermind, running a slick setup with separate drug and cash couriers, making the gang nearly impossible to pin down.
Fugitive Nabbed in Marbella, One Member Still on the Loose
After Wise fled to Spain post-arrest, the Met, in partnership with Spanish cops, tracked him to Marbella. Now behind bars, he joins seven others already sentenced. But one last man, James Lee, 58, from West Malling, remains at large. Authorities urge anyone with info to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Detective Constable Gary Jopling said: “Drugs devastate communities, leading to addiction, anti-social behaviour, and violence. We’re hunting down those who cash in on misery to keep London safer. James Lee is still wanted – if you know anything, please come forward.”
Other Key Players Behind Bars
- Jack Lee, 35, Welling: 16 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Gareth Morris, 58, Greenwich: 7 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Lee Willetts, 31, Greenford: 7 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Matthew O’Brien, 34, Ruislip: Nearly 16 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Georgie Norris, 23, Ealing: 12 years and 8 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Mark Breagan, 41, Ealing: 10 years and 4 months for supply involvement.
- Alfie Whitbread, 23, Ealing: Almost 9 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
This bust is part of the Met’s wider “A New Met for London” plan aiming to clean up communities and hit crime hard. The message is clear: London’s drug criminals won’t get a free ride.
