Aaron Wise, a 33-year-old man from West Ealing, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in a drug dealing network. This comes after a thorough investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
Wise is the eighth member of the drug network to be jailed, following a year-long effort by law enforcement to gather evidence against them. The group, known for distributing cocaine across west and east London, has been linked to fueling drug addiction in the area.
The investigation into the network involved the use of an encrypted messaging platform called EncroChat. With the assistance of the National Crime Agency, detectives were able to conduct a covert operation to track down the drug distributors operating in London.
By analysing four years’ worth of phone data, authorities were able to uncover the full extent of the network’s activities. It was revealed in court that the gang had supplied over 100kg of cocaine to Londoners between 2019 and 2020, with an estimated street value of £8 million.
Wise was identified as the mastermind behind the operation, responsible for organising the network into separate groups of drug couriers and cash couriers. This made it more challenging for law enforcement to track their movements.
Despite the arrests of several members of the group, Wise attempted to flee the country. However, working in collaboration with Spanish authorities, the Metropolitan Police were able to locate and apprehend him in Marbella. Currently, James Lee from Kent remains the only member of the network still at large.
In addition to Aaron Wise, other individuals who have been sentenced as part of this operation include Jack Lee from Welling, Gareth Morris from Greenwich, Lee Willetts from Greenford, Matthew O’Brien from Ruislip Gardens, Georgie Norris from Hanwell, Mark Breagan from Hanwell, and Alfie Whitbread from Hanwell.
The successful prosecution of these individuals marks a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking in London. The Metropolitan Police have sent a strong message that those involved in such criminal activities will be brought to justice.
