Maidstone Drug Dealer Caught with £1 Million Cocaine Stash
A Maidstone man has been locked up after cops uncovered over five kilos of top-grade cocaine worth a staggering £1 million during a dramatic drugs raid.
Five Kilos of Pure Cocaine Seized in Maidstone
Kent and Essex Serious Crime officers raided a business on Lower Road, East Farleigh on 29 August 2019. Inside, they found Andrew Mackie, 53, who pointed them to a cupboard under the stairs. There, officers discovered three sealed parcels and six grip-seal bags holding 5.3 kilos of cocaine.
Alongside the drugs, police seized digital scales, gloves, empty bags, and a whopping £7,000 in cash from Mackie’s premises and car.
High Purity Drugs Worth a Million Pounds
Laboratory tests revealed the cocaine had a purity between 80 and 100 per cent — indicating it was prime quality. Once cut, its street value was pegged at around £1 million.
Mackie Sentenced to Over Eight Years Behind Bars
After pleading guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, Mackie was sentenced on 9 January 2020 to eight years and four months in prison for being involved in cocaine supply.
“The quantity of cocaine found suggests organised crime was behind its distribution,” said Chief Inspector Ray Quiller, Kent Police’s Maidstone District Commander. “Mackie and his criminal associates were making serious profit while damaging our communities. This lengthy sentence is well deserved.”
