Two Men Nabbed with 49kg of Cocaine in High-Stakes A127 Drug Bust
Two men have been locked up for a decade each after officers caught them red-handed with a massive haul of Class A drugs near Basildon, Essex.
Drug Deal Foiled on Busy A127
On 20 May, Met Police detectives from the Specialist Crime team were keeping an eye on traffic near Basildon when they spotted a suspicious convoy: a Lithuanian-registered HGV followed by a UK Mini Countryman. Both vehicles pulled into a lay-by on the London-bound carriageway.
Lithuanian driver Laimutis Vikerta, 41, was seen handing over two large suitcases to Vicrahdeep Sahota, 29, from Wokingham, Reading. Sahota then stuffed the suitcases into his Mini. The officers swooped, stopping the vehicles and detaining both men for a drugs search.
Massive Cocaine Haul Discovered
The search uncovered an astonishing 49 kilograms of high-purity cocaine inside the suitcases — enough to cause havoc across London’s communities.
Guilty Pleas Lead to Ten-Year Sentences
Both men pled guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. On Monday, 23 November, Snaresbrook Crown Court sentenced Vikerta and Sahota to ten years behind bars each.
Detective Inspector Jim Casey said: “This is a significant seizure of high purity cocaine which would have no doubt caused hardship and misery across all the communities of London and beyond. Thanks to my team’s professionalism, this has been stopped.”
“I hope these sentences serve as a clear warning to anyone thinking about getting involved in drug supply on London’s streets.”
