Three Men Jailed for 40 Years Over Guns and Drugs Smuggled via Eurotunnel
Three men caught smuggling firearms and drugs into the UK through the Eurotunnel have been locked up for a combined 40 years. The ruthless gang’s reign ended following a daring police investigation that uncovered loaded guns, ammo, and Class A drugs.
Sentences Handed Down at Woolwich Crown Court
- Kennedy Udo, 28, from Eltham, was sentenced to eight and a half years. He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs and helping illegally import banned goods.
- Michael Mgbedike, 22, from Orpington, got eight years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- Emmanuel Okubote, 27, from Peckham, received 23 and a half years back in 2018. He was convicted of conspiracy to supply firearms with intent to endanger life, plus related drug and ammunition offences. Okubote was the main mastermind behind the operation.
Guns and Drugs Found Hidden in Car’s Roof
The bust came after Border Force and the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command stopped a car at Coquelles, France, in August 2017. Inside they found two loaded firearms, ammunition, and a sound moderator, destined for Folkestone. Stashed in the car’s roof was almost a kilogram of high purity cocaine.
Udo and Mgbedike were arrested at the scene. A wider investigation led to Okubote’s arrest in London, where another loaded gun was seized from a home in Forest Hill in January 2018. Okubote’s fingerprints and DNA were found on the weapons, linking him firmly to the crime.
Multiple Smuggling Trips from Amsterdam to UK
The trio made several trips through the Eurotunnel from Amsterdam over the summer of 2017, smuggling at least three loads of drugs and prohibited firearms. Okubote used others with little criminal history as his pawns in the operation.
“This conviction shows the power of strong partnerships between Trident, Border Force, and the CPS to tackle deadly criminals,” said DC Sarah Smart of Trident. “These men sought to flood our communities with guns and drugs, bringing misery and danger. Our work has undoubtedly saved lives, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue those who smuggle such weapons and drugs into the UK.”
The Metropolitan Police and partner agencies remain committed to making the UK a hostile place for gun and drug traffickers.
