A Luton cocaine dealer who had a bespoke ‘hide’ in his Mercedes van to store drugs was jailed for nine years on Wednesday, February 22, 2022.
Craig McKoy, 34, was arrested after the police cracked the Encrochat communications network that organised crime gang members thought was secret.
Officers learned that between April 4 and 6, 2020 he was instructed to split a 1.1 kilo block of cocaine into two half kilos and one 100 gram block.
He then took a 500 gram block to Kimpton Road in Luton and sold it for £20,000, Luton Crown Court heard.
On May 4, 2020 McKoy, who was known as Bashy, was contacted by someone using the name “Happy Shopper” who told him to collected seven kilos of cocaine from Walsall.
He had been driving Mercedes van which had a bespoke ‘hide’ behind the seats to store the drugs. It was accessed by a button under the carpet.
Craig McKoy of Peartree Road, Luton appeared for sentence on a video link from Bedford prison, having earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between March and June 2020.
He had 10 convictions for 16 offences, including a six year jail sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs in 2010.
In a basis of plea, which was accepted by the prosecution, McKoy said he was primarily a courier and a custodian of the drugs, playing a similar role to a foreman on an industrial site.
Defending, Tim Forte said McKoy was remorseful and sent the judge character references.
He said he had some mental health issues. Jailing him, Judge Gary Lucie said: “The only sentence is a substantial term of immediate custody.”
The judge said drug dealing leads to misery for drug users and causes other people to become the victims of crime.
Get daily FREE news here:
https://www.bedsbulletin.com/bulletin/sign-up/
