Robert Daniel Flook, 46, was sentenced at London's Blackfriars Crown Court for conspiracy to supply 330lb (150kg) of Class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to supply eight tonnes of Class C drugs (cannabis). police believe imported drugs with a street value of more than £350 million has been jailed for 26 years.
The Metropolitan Police said the cannabis seizure is the largest the force has ever made and the cocaine haul is the second largest ever made in South Africa.
Flook used "front companies" to transport drugs hidden in garden furniture and mirrors, police said. He was arrested following a joint investigation between the Met's Special Projects team and South African Organised Crime law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on the importation of cocaine and cannabis by British nationals into the UK from South Africa. It culminated in the seizure of eight tonnes of cannabis in September 2006, with a street value of £28 million. The consignment was seized at Felixstowe port and concealed in a shipment of South African garden furniture.
The second seizure was made in South Africa the following month and consisted of 330lb (150kg) of cocaine with a street value of £10.5 million. That consignment had been hidden in mirrors destined for the UK.
Flook, of Eltham Park Gardens, Eltham, south east London, was found guilty of the charges in August.
Police believe that the network started importing drugs in 2001, with similarly sized consignments to those seized in September/October 2006 being imported undetected until the seizures. Officers described Flook as one of the key organisers.
During Flook's trial it was said the network imported some 11 containers which held cannabis between 2001 and 2006, which based on the quantity seized in September 2006 was valued at £308 million street value. In addition evidence showed the network imported four containers of cocaine with an estimated value of £42 million street value between 2004 and 2006, police said.
This brings the total estimated street value of the drugs concerned with Flook's operation to £350 million.
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