March 26, 2026
Trevor Archer has concluded the prosecution of an organised crime group after police uncovered a sophisticated cocaine‑extraction laboratory hidden inside a residential flat in South London. The operation involved cocaine chemically bonded to cosmetic products marking the first case of its kind in the UK.
The defendants imported bars of soap, hair wax and other cosmetic items from Colombia concealing 3.51kg of cocaine with a street value of £211,320. They operated a makeshift laboratory in a flat in Vauxhall—outfitted with improvised equipment and hazardous chemicals—specifically to extract cocaine that had been chemically bonded to the cosmetic products.
Due to the covert laboratory setup and the chemically complex methods used to extract the cocaine, the case has drawn media attention with it being described as “a real‑life case of Breaking Bad” (after the popular US TV series).
Four defendants were convicted on 20th March and received a combined 44 years’ imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court.
Trevor Archer has expertise in serious and organised crime including gang-related offending and cases that require complex disclosure management, informant handling and expert evidence.
He was instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
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Trevor Archer
Call: 2005