Six semi-professional footballers who sold cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £260m have been jailed for a total of more than 103 years, and some people think their sentences are unnecessarily harsh.
The sentences ranged from 15 to 22 years for each defendant, who police said formed a “highly organised” gang who sold cocaine on an “industrial scale” around London, before the whole thing came crashing down following the arrest of one of its members.
Luke Skeete, 36, had been pulled over by police while driving a white panel van in October 2022 – and a search of the vehicle uncovered 8kg of cocaine in the back. He was stupid enough to be driving around with that 8kg of coke whilst disqualified from driving. Come on Luke, everyone knows you should only ever be breaking one law at a time!
Following the semi-pro footballer’s arrest, a further 123kg of cocaine and 224kg of ketamine was recovered from storage units in west London that he had control of. His phone was also seized and found to contain a secure messaging platform that was used by 5 of his fellow semi-pros who were also involved in drug-dealing.
The other five members were:
• Former Enfield Town defender Adam Pepara, 35
• Former Chesham United forward Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, 29
• Former Harrow Borough FC player Andrew Harewood, 34
• Former Margate FC striker Melchi Emanuel-Williamson, 29
• Former FK Senica player Jamarl Joseph, 28
Sure enough, CCTV footage showed all five of the above coming and going from the west London storage units with drugs concealed in holdalls and boxes. Sounds more like they were pro coke dealers who also played a bit of footie on the side?
Officers found the six men had conspired to supply in excess of 2.7 tonnes of “high-grade cocaine” with an estimated street value of between £208m and £260m between April and October 2022.
So, is a combined 103 years (15 – 22 for each defendant) a bit harsh for supplying (and conspiring to supply) humongous quantities of cocaine? Supporters of the lengthy jail terms argue that they are necessary to deter others from engaging in similar activity and to show that the legal system is serious about drug trafficking, whereas others reckon the sentences are too severe and will do nothing to reform and rehabilitate the offenders (which is probably true).
Ultimately, these men knew the risks they were running. The police investigation, dubbed ‘Operation Goalpost’ (wink wink), involved extensive surveillance, undercover operations, and collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies. So you can bet that the authorities were going to make all that time, effort and expenditure worth it by ensuring these lads got the harshest sentences possible. Do the crime, do the time, indeed!
For the Nottingham drug dealer who accidentally shot himself with a shotgun he forgot was loaded, click HERE. Happens to the best of us.
