Watford pair jailed over £80m cocaine smuggling plot

Summarised from Watford Observer's report · Updated 4 Nov, 18:27 · Archive

Two criminals from Watford have been jailed after police recovered £80 million worth of cocaine hidden in a lorry in November 2021. The container was supposed to contain steel furniture parts sealed before it left Mexico in September 2021. On 26 November 2021, officers discovered seven holdalls containing cocaine inside the lorry near Northampton after the driver stopped at a roadside burger van. Within two hours, police located a grey Transit van and recovered a further 11 holdalls. In total, 18 holdalls containing 78 kilograms of the class A drug were seized.

A two-year investigation by the Metropolitan Police uncovered the gang's movements. Craig Le-Mare, 36, from Watford, was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He had left the UK shortly after the drugs were seized and was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 25 January 2025. Michael Weston, 57, of no fixed abode, and Kelly Robertson, 46, from Watford, previously admitted their involvement in the plot and received 12 years nine months and 15 years respectively.

Read the report

• Jailed Watford pair 'hoped to make millions selling cocaine across UK'Two criminals from Watford who "hoped to make millions selling cocaine" have been jailed after an £80 million cocaine haul was recovered by police.Watford Observer · 4 Nov, 17:00

In this story: Craig Le-Mare · Michael Weston · Kelly Robertson · Watford · Metropolitan Police · Felixstowe · Old Bailey

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