£10 Million Assets Frozen as Ten Charged in Massive Cocaine Sting
Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a major crackdown on Wednesday 23 March 2022. They executed 28 dawn raids targeting a suspected organised crime group running complex fraud schemes and flooding the streets with cocaine.
Dawn Raids Nail 17 Suspects, 10 Charged
All 17 suspects were detained during the swoop. Ten face charges for conspiring to supply cocaine after Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs joined forces with police in the operation.
Kent Police’s financial investigators have frozen over £10 million of criminal assets, including bank accounts and vehicles, to hit the gang where it hurts.
Faces Behind the Bust
- Lewis Cosgrove, 38, Rochester
- Patrick Hallahan, 35, Hove
- Kevin Ratcliffe, 40, Brighton
- Damion Freeman, 44, Brighton
- Richard Shelton, 40, Eltham
- Michael Blewett, 42, Brighton
- Jessie Cockle, 28, Lowestoft
- James Savva, 50, New Barnet
Additional charges:
- Carl Crabtree, 40, Lowestoft, charged with concealing criminal property
- Daniel Newton, 35, Tonbridge, charged with fraud by false representation
Tightened Grip on Crime
All charged individuals were remanded in custody and are set to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday 25 March. Meanwhile, seven others were bailed pending further investigation until 20 April.
This operation sends a clear message: crime won’t pay in Kent and Essex.
