Karl Richter, 52, from Fourth Avenue, Clase in Swansea was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court.[1] He appeared by video link for the sentencing hearing.[1] He had admitted conspiracy to evade the prohibition on importing a controlled class B drug.[1] The cannabis import sentence was two years and nine months, to run consecutively after an eight-year and three-month sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine, making 11 years in total.[1]

On 1 March 2022, officers at Tilbury Port uncovered 408 kilos of cannabis hidden in a large plywood crate.[1] The crate held a precision machine lathe whose base concealed 408 silver-wrapped 1 kg parcels of cannabis that had come from South Africa.[1] The lathe was to be delivered to a textile business used as the delivery address for the consignment.[1] Prosecutors said Richter was a very important link between his UK contacts and the South African importer, shown by patterns of phone calls and meetings.[1] The National Crime Agency said the wider organised group arranged two cannabis importations from Canada and South Africa totalling 676 kilos.[2]

Richter was also sentenced for conspiracy to supply 40 kg of cocaine with a separate group.[1] That included a July 2023 journey in which a later stop found a box with 7 kg of high-purity cocaine valued at the time at £189,000.[1] After his arrest, a search of his property found £4,000 in cash, mobile phones and Class A and B drugs.[1] The judge called the importation a sophisticated and well-planned attempt and Richter a crucial link between the UK and South African operations.[1]