Three Arrested in Croydon Over Major Meth Shipment Sent to Australia
Big Bust by UK and Aussie Cops
Yvonne Stewart, 52, from Croydon, Kevin Filkins, 52, from Sevenoaks, and Robert Hamilton, 51, from Orpington were arrested on the morning of 13 April by the Organised Crime Partnership. This joint task force of National Crime Agency (NCA) and Metropolitan Police officers swooped on the trio over a massive methamphetamine shipment sent to Australia.
How the Drug Deal Went Down
- Stewart, who works in cargo, is accused of accepting a shipment loaded with meth and failing to inspect it properly before marking it as security cleared.
- Filkins allegedly travelled to the Croydon shipping centre on 26 June 2021 and paid for the consignment to be sent to Australia.
- Hamilton is said to have brokered the contact between Filkins and Stewart to organise the illicit shipment.
Australian Authorities Snapped the Shipment
The shipment arrived in Australia in July 2021. Australian Border Force officers selected it for inspection, discovering 24 plastic bags each containing a kilo of crystal meth. Testing confirmed the substance as methamphetamine. The case was handed over to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who tracked the crime back to an organised crime syndicate based in Australia.
Charges and Impact
- All three were charged last night with being involved in the exportation of Class A drugs.
- They face court today at Croydon Magistrates.
- Hamilton also faces charges for possession, production, and intent to supply Class B drugs after cannabis plants were found at his home.
Detective Inspector Guy Carmichael, of the Organised Crime Partnership, said: “These drugs would be worth around £4 million in the UK but a staggering £16 million in Australia — nearly $28 million Aussie dollars.”
“Thanks to close cooperation with Australian forces, a major drug supply chain has been dismantled, keeping dangerous narcotics off the streets.”
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Brendon Basford added: “Our team identified suspicious activity in the UK, passed intelligence to the NCA, and it’s rewarding to see the resulting action against these alleged criminals.”
ABF Commander Susan Drennan said: “This bust highlights the power of international law enforcement partnerships. Our efforts to stop dangerous criminals don’t stop at our borders.”
