Major Drugs Gang Busted in Sussex: Eight Jailed for Supply of Cocaine and Heroin
A high-stakes police operation has smashed a serious drug trafficking ring in Sussex. Operation Relic, run by the Serious Organised Crime Unit, targeted Lubhaia Ram, his son Surinder Kumar, and their associates for dealing cocaine and heroin between 2017 and 2018.
Big Sentences at Brighton Crown Court
Following arrests and trials, eight men received hefty prison terms in April. Key sentencing details:
- Surinder Kumar, 39, East Grinstead – 5 years, added consecutively to an 11-year sentence from a previous drug conviction.
- Lubhaia Ram, 60, Crawley – 7 years custody plus 4 years extended licence.
- Wayne Mather, 51, Crawley – 6 years 9 months.
- Jamie Yardley, 31, Crawley – 8 years 3 months.
- Ferit Dajcaj, 34, London NW9 – 3 years 10 months.
- Jordan Lacey, 30, Crawley – 8 years 5 months total, covering multiple drug charges.
- Joshua Erikson, 27, Crawley – 7 years 3 months.
- Aaron Dolding, 36, Crawley – 4 years 6 months.
Surveillance and Smart Police Work Crack the Case
Detective Constable Steve Wood revealed the investigation was intense and intelligence-led, using phone surveillance and covert CCTV to gather evidence. The gang used frequent mobile phone switches and multiple numbers to evade detection.
“This was a high-intensity operation over several months, based on intelligence and using surveillance to develop evidence of the connections between the defendants,” said DC Wood.
Captured footage showed:
- Mather meeting Surinder Kumar in a car in August 2018.
- Mather dropping Ram off at a pub near Gatwick just before he was arrested with drugs.
- Police raiding Lacey’s Crawley home and finding cocaine and drug paraphernalia after he tried flushing drugs down the toilet.
Inside the Drug Network: From Multi-Kilo Suppliers to Street Dealers
Surinder Kumar operated as a multi-kilo cocaine supplier, dealing large quantities to Yardley. Yardley then supplied Lacey with up to quarter-kilo amounts. Lacey and Erikson handled chopping and packaging for street-level deals, using runners like Aaron Dolding across Crawley.
Lubhaia Ram, the patriarch, supplied both cocaine and heroin, coordinating with Mather to handle storage, supply, and cash collection.
Ferit Dajcaj, a decorator from London, acted as a courier, shuttling cocaine and money between suppliers and Yardley.
The police seized drugs worth up to £137,000 and nearly £91,000 in cash during the probe.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Impact
The case is still open, with further hearings expected to target the criminals’ assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Chief Inspector Shane Baker said: “Conspiracies such as this bring nothing but misery and disruption to communities. We continue to disrupt and bring to justice anyone seeking to engage in the distribution of illegal drugs.”
This landmark bust sends a clear message: Sussex police mean business when it comes to tackling drug crime.
