September 17, 2025
Cameron Brown KC, leading Serena Gates and Hannah Gladwell, have concluded the prosecution of a crime group who have been jailed for over 111 Years in a drug smuggling case including a plan to import 1.2 tonnes of cocaine, using a yacht and sea containers and actual importation of over 650 kgs cannabis into the UK.
Border Force officers intercepted 408kg of cannabis hidden in machinery at Tilbury Port and 268kg concealed in toolboxes at Southampton. The operation relied on fake companies and fraudulent payments to facilitate the shipments.
Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced McClenaghan (30 years), Talbot (23), Braithwaite (22), Magee (20), Campbell (10), and Ward (6.5). Karl Richter is due to be sentenced in October.
The case was part of Operation Venetic, a nationwide initiative launched in 2020 by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in collaboration with international partners to dismantle the EncroChat encrypted communications network.
RLC counsel were instructed by the CPS SEOCID with Olivia Hagger of 5KBW also instructed as part of the prosecution team.
More info:
Cameron Brown KC: [Cameron Brown KC Profile]
Serena Gates: [Serena Gates Profile]
Hannah Gladwell: [Hannah Gladwell Profile]
News reports:
BBC Radio Essex: [BBC Sounds] (Listen from 1.10.07)
NCA: [National Crime Agency News]
