Drug Gang Ran Cocaine Factory in Edith Road
Three men sentenced to over 15 years in jail
Three men who transformed a West Kensington property into a cocaine production factory have been jailed for a total of 15 ½ years.
The drugs empire of Wesley Dawson, Mark Thompson and Joseph Donnelly came crumbling down last year following an operation by Hammersmith & Fulham’s Police Crime Squad.
The Crime Squad detained Thompson on October 4, 2012 near Edith Road, West Kensington and recovered ¼ kilo of high purity cocaine.
Officers then executed simultaneous searches at 107 Edith Road and 41 Beech Avenue, Acton. Dawson was detained inside 107 Edith Road in the process of mixing cocaine.
Police recovered a substantial quantity of high purity cocaine, a large quantity of mixing agent and an industrial hydraulic press, containing a compressed block of cocaine. In addition a quantity of skunk cannabis and £10,000 cash was seized from the location.
Donnelly was arrested at Beech Avenue. At the property, police discovered a locked cupboard which was found to contain a further quantity of cocaine, an industrial sized container of mixing agent, electronic scales for multi-kilo weights and evidence of numerous kilo sized shrink wrap packages, indicating that the location had been used for the wholesale distribution of cocaine.
Forensic analysis of the cocaine recovered in this case revealed the drugs to be of high purity, with quantities being measured in excess of 90% purity.
In total 2.7 kilos of cocaine were recovered with an estimated street value in the region of £200,000. In addition, the mixing agent recovered would have been capable of adulterating a further 22.5 kilos of cocaine, at an estimate the value of £400,000.
Officer in the case, DC Jessica Newton said: “This investigation has dismantled an organised criminal network that was engaged in the distribution of high purity cocaine. The drugs in this case were undoubtedly destined for local streets and would have caused significant harm. This operation underlines the commitment of Hammersmith & Fulham police to tackle the supply of class A drugs, at all levels of the supply chain.”
Dawson, Thompson and Donnelly were charged with a variety of offences on Friday October 5, 2013 and were remanded in custody. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine in January 2013 at Isleworth Crown Court.
At Isleworth Crown Court on Friday February, 15, Dawson, 26, of Holly Gardens, West Drayton was jailed for 6 ½ years.
Mark Thompson, 49, of Edith Road, was sentenced to five years and Joseph Donnelly, 40, of Beech Avenue was jailed for four years.
March 1, 2013