A man from Feltham has been jailed for 15 years for his role in helping to import £360 million worth of Class A drugs. 

Sulaiman Bawa, 52, of Peacock Avenue, Feltham used his experience of running Airport Cargo Care Ltd. to help advise criminals on how to import cocaine into the UK from South America, South Asia, and the Middle East without detection. 

An investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) launched in March 2020 found that he was part of an organised crime group planning to import and distribute 3,058 kilogrammes of cocaine and 2,357 kilogrammes of heroin, which would have a value of over £361 million. 

Detective Constable Hayley Kendall, from ERSOU's Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "Bawa was a key cog in a sophisticated criminal network looking to import vast quantities of heroin and cocaine into the UK. 

"He went to great lengths to hide his activities, however tireless work by ERSOU's specialist investigators - alongside colleagues from other agencies - outlined his involvement and ultimately led to Bawa being apprehended. 

"The importation of drugs causes untold misery across the country, from gang violence and exploitation to drug addiction and the low-level criminality committed by those looking to finance their habit. 

"ERSOU will always seek out the offenders involved in the largest scale criminal networks and ensure that justice is brought to those who cause the most harm to communities across eastern England." 

Bawa used the encrypted communications tool Encrochat to coordinate his activities with drug dealers, but servers from the platform were seized under Operation Venetic, the UK's biggest ever law enforcement operation, and this uncovered thousands of criminal messages. 

Bawa was arrested in July 2020 and admitted to his role in running a customs clearance company based near London Heathrow Airport but denied being behind the handle 'PARKPOINT', but specialist investigators analysing pictures and messages from Bawa's personal and encrypted phones were able to show that he was the user of the device. 

Following a trial at Luton Crown Court, he was subsequently found guilty of conspiracy to import heroin and conspiracy to import cocaine and on Friday 14th April, following a hearing at the same court, Bawa was jailed for 15 years.