65-year-old grandmother ‘Gangsta Debbs' jailed for running $1.07 billion drug empire in UK

Indian Express

3 days ago

A 65-year-old grandmother dubbed 'Gangsta Debbs' or 'Queen Bee' has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for heading a sprawling, family-run cocaine operation valued at up to £80 million ($1.07 billion) on the streets, as per a report by the BBC. Deborah Mason, the matriarch of the south-east England-based gang, enlisted her children, their partners, and close family members to transport and distribute Class A drugs across the UK, Woolwich Crown Court heard on Friday.
According to the BBC, the group operated under Mason's direction like a tightly run business. She was described by Judge Philip Shorrock as 'the site foreman working under a project manager.'
The investigation began in April 2023 when undercover officers observed Mason loading boxes into a hire car in a Harwich retail park. After following the vehicle to Ipswich, they watched her hand over a laundry bag to a man. Her unassuming appearance had made her a calculated choice for such handovers, her barrister noting she 'would not catch the eye.'
Over the next seven months, the Metropolitan Police tracked Mason and her gang as they collected cocaine from ports like Harwich, Folkestone, and Dover. The drugs, often tightly packed and split into supermarket bags, were delivered across cities including London, Cardiff, Bristol, Sheffield, and Manchester.
One courier was found with 10kg of cocaine shortly after a drop in Leicester. Prosecutors said the gang trafficked at least 356 kg of cocaine in 20 known trips, with a potential street value of £80 million ($1.07 billion).
The gang used the encrypted messaging app Signal to communicate, often under aliases. Mason had a particularly close relationship with a man known only as 'Bugsy,' believed to be the supplier. The two even holidayed together in Dubai and Bahrain.
Prosecutor Charlotte Hole said Mason managed every detail, from wake-up calls for drivers to regular check-ins throughout their routes. Though she didn't purchase the drugs herself, Mason coordinated multi-kilo transactions and 'took a cut of the wages' of those working under her.
Mason enjoyed the profits, splurging on Gucci accessories. When arrested, police found her in a bathroom draped with a DKNY towel. Holidays to Dubai, Malta, Prague, and Poland were also funded through the drug network. Even while abroad, she reportedly managed UK operations via FaceTime.
Mason involved her three daughters, her son, two partners, and close family friends in the operation. Her son, Reggie Bright, 24, was among the most active, making 12 drug trips and delivering at least 90kg of cocaine. His partner, Demi Kendall, and sister Lillie Bright often accompanied him.
The prosecution said all members were motivated by financial gain, and there was no sign of coercion. Defence lawyers argued the children were 'couriers' rather than key decision-makers.
Specialist prosecutor Robert Hutchinson described the group as 'no ordinary family,' stating, 'Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars.'
Sentences of jail terms have been handed down.
(With inputs from BBC)