Three Men Jailed for 24 Years in Massive Drug Bust
Three men have been locked up for a total of 24 years after being caught supplying over 40 kilos of cocaine and cannabis. The trio are the latest to fall in Operation Costello, Bedfordshire’s biggest crackdown on organised crime, which has already bagged offenders with nearly 250 years behind bars.
Crime Syndicate Busted Across the UK
Michael Southall, George Hyde, and Oleksandr Romanenko were key players in a well-organised crime gang pushing huge amounts of cocaine and cannabis. Police discovered they were also hoarding a large stash of cash.
By cracking the encrypted EncroChat phones used by the gang, officers uncovered messages linking the criminal operation to hotspots across the country, including Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, and nottingham/" title="Nottingham" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Nottingham.
Sentences for the Drug Dealers
- Michael Southall, 43, from Linton, Cambridgeshire, was handed 11 years after admitting to cocaine conspiracy.
- George Hyde, 38, of Silsoe, received eight years for cocaine conspiracy. He also got additional sentences for money laundering, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and cannabis production conspiracy, running concurrently.
- Oleksandr Romanenko, 34, from Northampton, was sentenced to five years for cocaine distribution, plus two years concurrent for criminal property possession.
Police Warning and Call for Community Vigilance
“Tackling serious and organised crime is a huge priority for us to ensure the safety of our community,” said Detective Constable Tom Pantony, the lead investigator.
“These gangs often operate multiple crimes that feed off each other, all linked to serious violence and exploitation. We will not hesitate to lock up the key players for a long time.”
If you spot anything suspicious like drug dealing, strange visitors to a property, or money laundering, report it at beds.police.uk/ro/report or call 101. Even if action isn’t immediate, your tip helps build crucial intelligence to fight organised crime.
