Crime Gang Leader Ordered to Repay £125,000 Despite £3m Income from Cocaine Trafficking
Craig Anthony, the leader of an organised crime gang (OCG), has been ordered to pay back just £125,000 despite making over £3 million by arranging for 65kg of cocaine to be transported from Liverpool to south Wales. The drugs he trafficked were valued at between £5 million and £6.6 million upon onward sale. Using EncroChat devices to avoid detection, Anthony operated the OCG from his base in Porth. A ledger found in possession of a Liverpool-based courier revealed transactions made to “Cardiff,” serving as a codeword for Anthony.
Neil Croston, the courier, was apprehended in Brecon in 2019, and incriminating evidence of his exchanges with “Cardiff” was discovered at his residence. Surveillance conducted following Croston’s arrest revealed 10 journeys between Liverpool and south Wales, involving the exchange of 65kg of cocaine for £2 million. The estimated value of the drugs supplied to “Cardiff” for onward sale ranged from £4.9 million to £6.6 million. Subsequently, Anthony and his cohorts were observed engaging in suspected drug transactions, leading to Anthony’s arrest in January 2020.
During Anthony’s arrest, a Yass mobile phone equipped with an Israeli SIM card, enabling calls through a “spoofing” application to conceal caller identity, was confiscated. Anthony refused to disclose the PIN for the phone and later activated a new encrypted device under the alias “Packwhale.” Data retrieved from this phone unveiled a £115,000 payment to Croston in May 2019, along with the utilization of couriers for several months.
In court, Judge Shoman Khan highlighted the substantial financial gains Anthony anticipated, owing to the vast sums of money circulating through his hands. Anthony, residing in Gethin Terrace, Porth, admitted to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and received a sentence of 18 years and six months. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing determined that Anthony profited £3,205,628 from his criminal activities but possessed assets amounting to just £125,375.
Judge Khan mandated Anthony to repay the latter sum within two months or face an additional 18 months of imprisonment. Despite the disparity between Anthony’s income and assets, the court’s decision underscores the financial repercussions of his illicit drug trafficking operation on south Wales. This case sheds light on the complexities of combating organised crime networks and the challenges posed by individuals exploiting technology to facilitate criminal activities.
The story of Craig Anthony serves as a stark reminder of the impact of drug trafficking on society and the importance of holding perpetrators to account for their actions. With the authorities actively pursuing assets obtained through illegal means, criminals like Anthony are being held liable for their involvement in criminal enterprises. The sentencing and financial penalties imposed on Anthony send a strong message about the consequences of engaging in illicit drug trade and the determination of law enforcement to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.