Drugs gang used Windsor garden centre for multi-million pound cocaine deals

- Group jailed for total of 59 years- Cocaine ring smashed by after police surveillance operation- Gang exchanged cash and drugs near Windsor garden centre cafe
4 December 2012
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Members of a drugs gang which used a suburban garden centre as a cover for multi-million pound cocaine deals were jailed for a total of 59 years today.

The gang were under surveillance as they exchanged bundles of cocaine and cash among the plants and shrubs of a Windsor garden centre.

Plain clothes officers followed the men and watched as they stored drugs in a lock-up garage.

When police swooped on the gang they recovered £300,000 in cash and £2.2 million worth of cocaine.

Surveillance officers watched in January this year as Vincent Hayward, 41 exchanged bags with Stephen Humphries, 37, near the café of the Squires of Windsor garden centre.

Hayward, 41, of Maidenhead, was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to supply cocaine. Humphries, 37, of Windsor was jailed for six years for the same offence.

Further inquiries identified a total of eight men involved in the trafficking of cocaine and other drugs.

Police stopped Hayward on his driveway after he left the garden centre and found him in possession of nearly £200,000 and a quantity of cocaine.

A search of his lock-up recovered MDMA pills, cash, a money counting machine and 1kg of pure cocaine.

Detective Chief Inspector Detective Chief Inspector Steve Wagstaff of the Met's Central Task Force, said: “The sentences today are the result of some outstanding examples of detective ability and teamwork."

Six others also received lengthy jail terms for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Kerry Reed, 34, of Shepperton was sentenced to nine years and eight months. Michael Reed, 63, of Ashford was sentenced to four years and eight months. Paul Kelly, 33 of Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey was sentenced to nine years and four months. Luke Kelly, 27, of Mytchett was sentenced to six years and nine months. David Brannigan, 34 of Camberley was sentenced to eight years. Rodney Goodyer, 63 of Reading was sentenced to six years.

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