A drugs kingpin who orchestrated a major narcotics operation from Thailand while enjoying a luxury lifestyle has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Vejay Samuels, 30, fled to the other side of the world in an attempt to evade justice but was ultimately arrested on his birthday upon returning to the UK.
The Nottingham Drug Empire
Samuels and his criminal network flooded the streets of Nottingham with cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis over a 15-month period between August 2022 and November 2023. Remarkably, Samuels maintained control of the operation for eight months while living 6,000 miles away in Thailand.
During his time on the run, Samuels lived an extravagant lifestyle with his girlfriend, Hannah Cwynar, 33. The couple splashed cash on upscale apartments and expensive activities, with photos later emerging showing Samuels wearing a sailor's hat at the helm of a pleasure craft and posing beside an elephant.
The court heard that Samuels accessed the gang's illicit profits through bank accounts belonging to Cwynar and his ex-partner, Charlotte Franklyn, 30. Both women received suspended sentences for their roles in money laundering.
Police Investigation Unravels the Network
Nottinghamshire Police's Serious Organised Crime Unit began dismantling the organisation in April 2023 when officers pulled over a car containing Jake Worrall and Gary Castledine. The traffic stop proved crucial when large quantities of crack cocaine were discovered inside the vehicle.
Forensic testing revealed Lyndon Wilson's fingerprints on the drugs, leading police to execute a warrant at his Top Valley home in September 2023. There, officers found bulk quantities of Class A and Class B drugs.
Another key figure, Andrew Mitchell, 54, was identified as the group's courier, regularly travelling to Huddersfield and Bradford to collect drugs for distribution in Nottingham. Mitchell controlled street dealer Sophie Goodwin, who made at least two drug collection trips to Huddersfield.
When police examined Goodwin's phone records, they discovered she had been sending advertisement messages for cocaine almost weekly between December 2022 and her arrest in October 2023.
The Final Reckoning
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Samuels and eight associates pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs. Only Damien Bohan and Charlotte Franklyn disputed their charges, but were found guilty following a trial that concluded on June 17.
At Nottingham Crown Court this week, eleven defendants received combined prison sentences totalling 84 years. The sentences included:
- Vejay Samuels: 14 years
- Andrew Mitchell: 11 years
- Jake Worrall: 12 years
- Joseph Gavin: 10 years
- Gary Castledine: 8 years
- Sophie Goodwin: 7 years
Hannah Cwynar and Charlotte Franklyn both received 15-month suspended sentences and must complete unpaid work.
Detective Constable Emma Grimley of Nottinghamshire Police stated: "This was an organised group that conspired together to distribute large amounts of controlled drugs across the Nottingham area for a lengthy period of time. While this was going on, those at the top of the group – namely ringleader Vejay Samuels – lived a life of luxury, using the proceeds raised by their drug dealing."
Detective Constable Steve Fenyn added: "Taking Vejay Samuels off the streets makes Nottingham a safer place for all."
