Police crack drug ring after luggage theft reported at airport
What began as a report of luggage theft led to Metropolitan Police detectives identifying and foiling a drugs importation gang.
As part of the investigation, territorial support group (TSG) officers were also shot at as they went to arrest one of the suspects and as a result an imitation firearm has also been taken off the streets.
Detective Chief Inspector Inderjit Kaur said: “This investigation highlights some fantastic detective work by Met Police officers to identify and uncover a dangerous group involved in drugs importation and supply, which we know can have a terrible effect on local communities.
“We also saw incredible bravery and professionalism from TSG officers who were shot at as they arrested one of the suspects. Thankfully, only blanks were fired, but thanks to this investigation, a dangerous weapon is off the streets and a group of dangerous criminals are now behind bars.”
The investigation was led by officers from the Met’s aviation policing command after two women reported their suitcases and passports were stolen while waiting for a taxi after arriving in London on a flight from Los Angeles on 11 January 2023.
Detectives carried out fast-time CCTV enquiries and traced the suspects – a man and woman – back to a car registered to Eleanar Attard. Just two days after the theft, officers attended her home in Broxbourne where they arrested Attard, along with her husband, Nicholas Panayiotou.
However, when officers examined Panayiotou’s phone, they found evidence that the theft was part of a wider conspiracy to import and then steal a large amount of cannabis.
A WhatsApp group chat found by officers contained details of a plan to smuggle 58kgs of cannabis into the UK from the USA. Officers also found evidence of how the group plotted to steal the cannabis from the two women recruited to import it – by Panayiotou and his wife posing as customs officers and pretending to seize the suitcases and passports from the women soon after they arrived into the UK.
ANPR data gathered by detectives also showed that Panayiotou and his wife travelled to a Chingford hotel and then on to their nearby restaurant, A Touch of Greek, after the theft was carried out.
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Three videos found by detectives on Panayiotou’s phone showed large quantities of cannabis. Meta-data analysis carried out by the officers showed the videos were taken the day after the theft of luggage took place and were filmed at the restaurant.
Extensive enquiries were made by officers to identify three other people on the WhatsApp group. Constantinos Zavros was identified as being connected to those supplying the drugs in the US and officers found evidence he also travelled to the US.
Luke Wileman was identified as advising the gang on how to sell the drugs and suggested suitable clothing for Panayiotou and Attard to wear in order to pose as customs officers. Police arrested both Zavros and Wileman soon after their identification in April 2023 and July 2023 respectively.
A third man – Koby Haik – was also identified by detectives as being heavily involved in the conspiracy. Officers from the Met’s TSG attended his home on 5th April 2023 to arrest him. However, as they entered the address, and despite clearly identifying themselves as police, Haik stood at the top of the stairs armed with a baseball bat and fired two shots from a gun. Officers safely detained Haik and the recovered weapon was sent for ballistic analysis, which later confirmed that it was an imitation that contained blank rounds.
The group were subsequently charged, convicted and sentenced as follows:
- Contantinos Zavros, aged 34 and of Carlton Avenue, Southgate, and Koby Haik, aged 31 and of Ashfield Road, Southgate, were both convicted of conspiracy to import cannabis, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to steal (suitcases and passports). Haik was also convicted of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
- Luke Wileman, aged 32 and of Faygate Lane, Horsham and Nicholas Panayiotou, aged 43 and of Sawells, Broxbourne, were both convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to steal. A charge of conspiracy to import cannabis against Paniyiotou is to lie on file.
- Zavros, Haik and Panayiotou were sentenced on 12th April at Isleworth Crown Court. Zavros was sentenced to six years, eleven months’ imprisonment. Haik was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and Panayiotou was sentenced to four years, one month’s imprisonment. Wileman is due to be sentenced at the same court on 9th May.
- Eleanar Attard, aged 45 and of Sawells, Broxbourne, was charged with theft of suitcases and passports. She was sentenced on 15th March at Isleworth Crown Court to eight months’ imprisonment (suspended for twelve months) and ordered to carry out a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement and complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
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