Latest news with #drugnetwork
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
UK's ‘Queen Bee' stung with jail term as US$107 million cocaine empire crumbles
'Gangster granny', the 65-year-old leader of a UK crime family, and seven of her associates were sentenced to a combined 106 years in prison for dealing more than US$100 million worth of cocaine across the country, officials announced on Friday. Deborah Mason, who is also known as 'Queen Bee' and 'Gangsta Deb', recruited her sister, her four children and others close to her family to work as couriers and distribute her product across London as well as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, the Independent reported. Over a span of about seven months in 2023, Mason's drug network peddled nearly a tonne of cocaine with a street value of nearly US$107 million. 'This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved,' said Metropolitan Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation. Mason used the profits to fund her lavish lifestyle, which included extravagant holidays and a collection of luxury high-end designer goods. According to the BBC, she at one point bought a Gucci collar and leash worth more than US$500, and a nine-carat gold engraved name tag for her Bengal cat, Ghost. Mason in April was found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A judge on Friday sentenced her to 20 years in prison.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Gangster Granny' sentenced to prison for operating $100 million drug ring
'Gangster Granny,' the 65-year-old leader of a U.K. crime family, and seven of her associates were sentenced to a combined 106 years in prison for dealing more than $100 million worth of cocaine across the country, officials announced Friday. Deborah Mason, who's also known as 'Queen Bee' and 'Gangsta Deb,' recruited her sister, her four children and others close to her family to work as couriers and distribute her product across London as well as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, the Independent reported. Over a span about seven months in 2023, Mason's drug network peddled nearly a ton of cocaine with a street value of nearly $107 million. 'This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved,' said Metropolitan Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation. Mason used the profits to fund her lavish lifestyle, which included extravagant vacations and a collection of luxury high-end designer goods. According to the BBC, she at one point purchased a Gucci collar and leash worth more than $500, and a nine-carat gold engraved name tag for her Bengal cat, Ghost. Mason in April was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. A judge on Friday sentenced her to 20 years in prison. 'You recruited members of your own family — as a mother you should have been setting an example for your children and not corrupting them,' Judge Philip Shorrock said, per BBC News. Mason's associates, including her sister, three daughters and son, were meanwhile ordered to spend between 10 and 15 years behind bars.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Gangster Granny' sentenced to prison for operating $100 million drug ring
'Gangster Granny,' the 65-year-old leader of a U.K. crime family, and seven of her associates were sentenced to a combined 106 years in prison for dealing more than $100 million worth of cocaine across the country, officials announced Friday. Deborah Mason, who's also known as 'Queen Bee' and 'Gangsta Deb,' recruited her sister, her four children and others close to her family to work as couriers and distribute her product across London as well as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, the Independent reported. Over a span about seven months in 2023, Mason's drug network peddled nearly a ton of cocaine with a street value of nearly $107 million. 'This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved,' said Metropolitan Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation. Mason used the profits to fund her lavish lifestyle, which included extravagant vacations and a collection of luxury high-end designer goods. According to the BBC, she at one point purchased a Gucci collar and leash worth more than $500, and a nine-carat gold engraved name tag for her Bengal cat, Ghost. Mason in April was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. A judge on Friday sentenced her to 20 years in prison. 'You recruited members of your own family — as a mother you should have been setting an example for your children and not corrupting them,' Judge Philip Shorrock said, per BBC News. Mason's associates, including her sister, three daughters and son, were meanwhile ordered to spend between 10 and 15 years behind bars.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Gangster granny who used family to run UK-wide cocaine ring & splashed cash on designer accessories for CAT is jailed
A GRAN nicknamed 'Queen Bee' who headed a family drug network which flooded the UK with almost a ton of cocaine in just seven months, was jailed for 20 years today. Crime matriarch Deborah Mason, 65, masterminded the drug operation - composed almost entirely of women - while receiving state benefits. 7 7 7 7 She recruited her sister, three of her daughters and son, along with two of their partners and a family friend, to transport the cocaine across the country. Seven of Mason's crime clan - including four of her children - were jailed for a total of 84-and-a-half years at London's Woolwich crown court. The court heard how 'Ma Coke' Mason trafficked a ton of cocaine with a street value of around £80 million between April and November 2023. Mason - Britain's equivalent to Netflix Miami drug baron granny Griselda Blanco - funded an extravagant lifestyle from her cocaine dealing. She bought an expensive Bengal cat and a £400 Gucci collar and lead for the pet, which had its name 'Ghost' engraved on a 9-cwt gold name tag. Mason, of Tufnell Park, North London, made trips to Dubai and Bahrain and planned cosmetic surgery in Turkey, the court heard. The drug dealing granny was known as 'Queen Bee' and paid her loved ones and their partners more than £1,000 a day for working for her. The court heard how Mason's sister, daughters and son would go on 'family days out' with young children in tow delivering large packages of cocaine. Mason's family couriers delivered cocaine to dealers in Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff as well as Rotherham and South London. The female-dominated group enjoyed exotic holidays and bought luxury goods, expensive garden furniture and designer clothes. Met detectives launched an investigation in April 2023 following a tip-off and shadowed Mason as she drive to Harwich at 4.30am to collect a large consignment of cocaine before returning to London. The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate before their arrests in May 2024. Prosecutor Charlotte Hole told the court how the conspiracy involved a nationwide supply of around a metric tonne of cocaine. Ms Hole said the value of the cocaine was between £20-25 million wholesale and 'capable of achieving a street value of up to £80 million.' She went on: 'When it comes to specific roles it is clear that everyone involved had an expectation of a significant financial advantage. 'There was at least £1,000 per trip and being paid and it was the motivating factor for this conspiracy. 'They were all involved, and in our submission had been aware of the scale of the operation. 'We do say that every individual played at least a significant role, with the exception of Deborah Mason who fell into a leading role.' The prosecutor said Deborah Mason was involved in the 'directing or organising of buying and selling cocaine on a commercial scale.' Ms Hole revealed how greedy Mason was claiming dole at the same time. 'She was in receipt of in excess of £50,000 in benefits income - legitimate income - during the conspiracy,' said Ms Hole.. The prosecutor referred to Mason's 'lavish spending on designer goods and her express intention to travel to Turkey to have cosmetic surgery procedures..' She also outlined Mason's 'list of holiday destinations and her actual travel to Dubai and Bahrain during the conspiracy period.' Mason was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs with daughters Roseanne Mason, 29, Lillie Bright, 26, and Demi Bright, 30, following an 11-week trial. Lillie Bright's partner Chloe Hodgkin, 23, was also found guilty of the same offence along with one of Demi Bright's friends, Anita Slaughter, 44. Mason's sister Tina Golding, 66, of Ashford, Kent, son Reggie Bright, 24, and his partner Demi Kendall, of Staplehurst, Kent, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Reggie Bright and partner Kendall also admitted a separate offence of possession with Intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property. It followed seizures of cocaine and more than £15,000 cash during a search of their home address. Reggie was jailed for 15 years and partner Demi Kendall got 13 and a half years. Roseanne and Demi(Bright) got 11 years each and Lillie was jailed for 13 years. Mason's sister Tina Golding got 10 years while Anita Slaughter received 13 years. Hodgkin will be sentenced at a later date. 7 7
Khaleej Times
06-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Saudi Arabia busts massive drug network with 37 members, including 28 citizens
Saudi Arabia authorities busted a drug network that illegally trades amphetamine, methamphetamine (shabu) and tablets subject to medical circulation regulations. The narcotic network consisted of 37 members who were arrested, including 28 citizens, some of them from various ministries. An official at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced that the network's members included one citizen from the Ministry of Interior, one from Ministry of National Guard, two from Ministry of Defence, and one from Ministry of Health. Other than citizens, the network also included five Syrian expats, one Yemeni expat, one Saudi resident, and two Ethiopians who violated the border security system. The necessary legal measures were taken, and they were referred to the Public Prosecution. Authorities said this confirms that they "will confront anyone who dares to undermine the security of the Kingdom, and arrest anyone who participates in them, whoever they may be." Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior added that authorities are vigilant against all criminal plots being hatched to target the nation and its youth with drugs. Saudi Arabia
