Dark Web Drug Kingpin Locked Up for Nine Years
A major dark web drug dealer has finally been brought down after a three-year police hunt. James Buckett, 35, from Caterham, has been slapped with a hefty nine-year jail sentence for masterminding a global drug empire.
The Dark Web Drug Empire
Buckett ran a secret online shop from 2019, selling a cocktail of class A drugs including cocaine, LSD, cannabis, and prescription medicines to buyers worldwide. He sourced his stash via the dark web and organised delivery straight to his gang’s homes.
His crew included:
- Alfie Petherick, 28, from Caterham, who split and shipped drugs internationally to France, Canada, the USA, and Germany.
- Craig Norton, 32, from Saltdean, the wheelman delivering drugs for several dealers.
- Joseph Strachan, 32, from Bromley, convicted for conspiracy to supply cocaine and diazepam.
How Police Nabbed the Network
The police first clocked Buckett in February 2019 when a parcel from the Netherlands containing 60.4 grams of MDMA, addressed to him, was seized at Heathrow. By June, Buckett had moved to South Croydon, but his landlord uncovered drugs and incriminating notes after forcing entry over unpaid rent.
On July 29, 2020, police arrested Buckett on a boat in Brighton Marina that served as his drug HQ. He faced multiple charges including drug importation, possession, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs alongside Petherick and Norton. Both were apprehended in July 2020; Strachan was caught in August.
Sentences Handed Down
- James Buckett: Nine years for conspiring to supply MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, and diazepam.
- Alfie Petherick: Four and a half years, concurrent with other drug offences.
- Craig Norton: 30 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Joseph Strachan: Two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty.
Detective Constable Phil Potter from Surrey Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “These sentences are part of our continued effort to dismantle organised crime networks within Surrey. We urge anyone with information about drug supply or use in their local area to report it to us.”
