Men jailed for conspiracy to supply drugs

Arrests followed investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate

Four men have been given prison sentences after admitting their part in conspiracy to supply the class B drug Methylenedioxpyrovalerone (MDPV).

On Thursday, 9 November 2012, Gurinder Fermah (32) formerly of St Nicholas Road, Rochester, Ben Burniston (22) formerly of Prospect Road, Chatham, Jonathon Parker (28) of Harrow Road, Skegness and Michael Brown (53) of Shelley Road, Wellingborough all appeared at Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing.

MDVP 'cocaine substitute'

The men had all been arrested following an investigation by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate into the large scale supply of the drug MDPV and cocaine. MDPV is a class B drug, commonly used as a cocaine substitute.

Fermah was sentenced to six years for three counts of supplying cocaine; this sentence is to run concurrently with a four-year sentence for conspiracy to supply MDVP. Burniston was sentenced to 3 years and four months, Parker 3 years and 8 months and Brown 3 years and four months.

Fermah and Burniston were arrested after selling four kilos of MDVP on 31 January 2012 to a person in the Newcastle area. The men had previously sourced the drugs from Brown prior to selling it on. The drugs had a street value of over £40, 000.

A few days later, on 3 February 2012, Brown was stopped by police driving on the A2 in Bean, Dartford. Officers searched his vehicle and found 1-kilo of MDVP with a street value of around £20,000. Further investigation led to the arrest of Parker on 12 June 2012. 

Joint investigation 

The case involved a joint investigation by The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, Lincolnshire Police and Northumbria Police.

Detective Inspector Kevin Downard said: ‘This was a complex investigation which involved officers working with two other Forces to facilitate these arrests. The men were part of an organised crime group dealing in huge quantities of illegal drugs.

‘The drugs seized have a street value of over £100,000 and thanks to the efforts of the officers have now been taken off the streets.’

Posted on: 9 November 2012