A drug dealer whose own CCTV captured him singing about ‘dirty cash’ while counting illicit money has been locked up for 15 years. Bertie Payne masterminded a huge drugs ring across East Kent, using a luxury watch business as a front to launder millions.
Luxury Watches and Cocaine: The Perfect Cover-up
Payne, 30, led a gang that flooded East Kent with 24kg of cocaine, 10kg of ketamine and 5,000 ecstasy pills from August 2024 until January 2025. His luxury watch business helped fake invoices and mask the flow of drug money.
He was caught red-handed in Bluewater car park on January 24, 2025, just as he was about to hand a man £50,000 in cash. Both men wore flashy watches and had stacks of them in their cars, raising suspicions.
Caught on Camera Singing ‘Dirty Cash’
Police seized CCTV from the watch business office. Not only was Payne counting wads of cash, but he was also caught on camera singing the song ‘Dirty Cash’. This damning footage helped seal his fate.
Analysis of his phone uncovered a web of contacts involved in moving the drugs and laundering money — including cryptocurrencies.
More than 2,100 texts between Payne and his right-hand man, Peter Nicholls, 51, were revealed during the investigation.
Gang Sentenced: Justice Served
- Bertie Payne – 15 years
- Peter Nicholls – 8 years
- Karen Gordon (drug storage) – 4 years 3 months
- Halim Lashi – 2 years suspended
- Reece Stovell – 6 years
- Harry Hathaway – 5 years 3 months
- Klein Taylor – 3 years 4 months
- Mitchell Laing – 2 years 9 months
- Massimo Fierro – 2 years 8 months
Detective Constable Martin Lacey said: “Payne went to great lengths to hide his criminal empire – using a legitimate business and recruiting others to do the dirty work. This was a massive operation distributing over £800,000 worth of drugs, ruining lives and devastating families.”
He added: “Payne thought he was untouchable, but crime doesn’t pay. If you break the law, you WILL be caught and punished.”
