Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A man has been jailed for importing and supplying large quantities of cannabis following a court hearing.
Rhys Herbert, 24 (29.06.00) of Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled Class B drug (cannabis) and the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition in relation to Class B drugs (cannabis).
A Newton Hearing held at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December 2024. On 31 January a Judge determined that Herbert played a significant role in the movement and supply of cannabis with estimated quantities of at least 45kg involved.
He was sentenced to three years and 11 months imprisonment.
An investigation into Herbert was launched after he was stopped for a driving offence in Westminster in November 2023. During the stop it was established a malicious communication offence may have been committed after Herbert posted personal information about one of the officers on social media. Herbert’s phone was seized and subsequently found to contain information that implicated his role in large scale drugs importation and supply.
He was arrested for these offences at an address in Lincoln on 21 February 2024 and due to the weight of evidence officers had gathered against him, pleaded guilty when he appeared in court.
Detective Constable Jacob Saville, who led the investigation, said: “Rhys Herbert has already admitted to his role in the importation and supply of large quantities of cannabis; now a Judge has reviewed all of the evidence and determined he played a significant role in this operation.
“As soon as we became aware of the various messages and information held on Herbert’s phone, detectives began to compile a wealth of evidence that proved his involvement was irrefutable.
“Drugs and the associated criminality they bring devastates communities and we will continue to identify and arrest those responsible who engage in this activity.”