The leader of an organised crime group responsible for trafficking huge quantities of cocaine, heroin and cannabis across West Essex and London has been jailed for more than 12 years after spending almost five years on the run.
Max Matthews, 31, of Albion Drive, London, absconded from police bail in July 2021 and fled abroad as investigators closed in on his criminal network.
Despite his disappearance, Essex Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit continued building its case and worked with national and international partners to trace him.
Matthews was eventually tracked down in Dubai and extradited to the UK in February 2026.
Appearing in court on Thursday, 6 August, Matthews was jailed for 12 years and six months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Investigators established that Matthews sat at the top of a criminal hierarchy responsible for moving vast quantities of drugs and criminal cash between March and July 2020.
The conspiracy involved approximately 74kg of cocaine, 12.5kg of heroin and 50kg of cannabis, as well as more than £5 million in cash.
Matthews’ conviction and sentence bring to an end a lengthy investigation which continued despite him fleeing the country and remaining overseas for years.
