Friday 25 March 2022
Ten people charged and £10 million worth of assets restrained following warrant activity
Ten people have been charged and £10 million worth of assets restrained following a morning of warrant activity by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
Twenty-eight search warrants were executed on the morning of Wednesday 23 March 2022, with officers targeting a suspected organised crime group involved in complex fraud and supplying huge quantities of cocaine.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs officers were also present at several scenes its investigators are working in partnership with serious crime detectives as enquiries continue.
The dawn warrants were specifically targeting 17 suspects, with all of them detained as a result of the activity.
Financial investigators working for Kent Police have since successfully restrained in excess of £10 million worth of alleged criminal assets. This includes the freezing of bank accounts and prohibiting the sale of property, such as cars and homes.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the following people have been charged with conspiring to supply cocaine:
- Lewis Cosgrove, 38, of Butlers Park Way, Rochester
- Patrick Hallahan, 35, of The Drive, Hove
- Kevin Ratcliffe, 40, of Longhill Road, Brighton
- Damion Freeman, 44, of Lenham Avenue, Brighton
- Richard Shelton, 40, of Green Lane, Eltham
- Michael Blewett, 42, of Mulberry Close, Brighton
- Jessie Cockle, 28, of Kimberley Road, Lowestoft
- James Savva, 50, of Reservoir Road, New Barnet
The following charges have also been authorised:
- Carl Crabtree, 40, of Colsterdale, Lowestoft, has been charged with concealing criminal property
- Daniel Newton, 35, of Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge, has been charged with fraud by false representation
They have all been remanded in custody to attend Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday 25 March.
A further seven people have been released on bail, pending further enquiries, until Wednesday 20 April.
