Bradley Hewett’s drug empire was busted thanks to the breakthrough of EncroChat, the encrypted phone network used by crooks.
‘Stream Burrito’ Peddled £40k-a-Kilo Cocaine
Operating under the alias ‘Stream Burrito’, Hewett dealt in cocaine worth up to £40,000 per kilogram. He also trafficked cannabis valued at nearly £5,000 per kilo.
EncroChat Crackdown Nets Hewett
International cops cracked the EncroChat code in spring 2020. Messages from ‘Stream Burrito’ between March and April were handed to kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police, leading to a deep dive into Hewett’s drug dealings.
Arrest and Guilty Plea
Hewett, 37, was arrested at his Bapchild home on 24 May 2022. He faced charges for class A and B drug supply. He pleaded guilty and was locked up following sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on 11 July 2023.
Kent Detective Opens Up
“The length of the custodial sentence Bradley Hewett must now serve reflects the key role he played in the supply of illegal substances in Kent,” said Detective Constable Aaron Chapman.
“The name ‘Stream Burrito’ came up time and again in messages with other dealers already sentenced or awaiting trial, alongside the huge amounts of cocaine and cannabis Hewett moved weekly. Drugs ruin lives, and one fewer criminal is profiting from others’ misery.”
