Drugs Ring Leader Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
The mastermind behind a £1million drugs operation has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being caught on his own CCTV footage singing about "dirty cash." Bertie Payne, 30, from Birchington, Kent, headed a seven-member gang that distributed Class A substances across the region between August 2024 and January 2025.
Sophisticated Operation Uncovered
Payne's gang supplied and distributed approximately £800,000 worth of drugs throughout eastern England. This included 24 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of ketamine, and 5,000 ecstasy tablets. To conceal their illicit activities, Payne operated under the guise of a luxury watch business, creating fake invoices to process large sums of cash without detection.
His downfall began on January 24, 2025, when he was arrested at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford while attempting to hand £50,000 in cash to another man, Halim Lashi, 31, from Croydon. Both men were detained on suspicion of money laundering offences, prompting a thorough investigation.
Incriminating CCTV Evidence
During a search of the fake watch business, police recovered CCTV footage that showed Payne counting a substantial amount of money while singing the popular dance track "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)." This evidence proved crucial in building the case against him.
Payne later admitted to charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine, as well as money laundering offences. At the time of his initial arrest, both Payne and Lashi were found wearing luxury watches, with additional timepieces discovered in their vehicles.
Further Arrests and Investigation
In April 2025, police executed a warrant at Payne's home, breaking down his door under cover of darkness to arrest him again. Detectives from the Kent and Essex Police Serious Crime Directorate then analysed Payne's mobile phone, uncovering more than 2,100 text messages exchanged with a contact known as "PBoss." This individual was later identified as Peter Nicholls, 51, from Ramsgate, Kent, who was arrested on April 3, 2025.
Nicholls was determined to be Payne's right-hand man, working with several others to transport Class A and B drugs across east Kent. He also used the home of Karen Gordon, 52, from Ramsgate, to store drugs before distribution. Gordon was subsequently arrested as part of the investigation.
Wider Network Dismantled
The comprehensive police operation led to the arrests of additional gang members: Massimo Fierro, Harry Hathaway, Mitchell Laing, Reece Stovell, and Klein Taylor. Along with Nicholls, they were all charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. Nicholls faced additional charges of conspiracy to supply ketamine and money laundering, while Fierro was charged with conspiracy to supply ketamine, and Lashi with money laundering.
All defendants admitted their charges except Lashi, who denied money laundering but was found guilty at a trial in October 2025.
Sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court
At Maidstone Crown Court, Payne received a 15-year prison sentence. Nicholls was sentenced to eight years, Gordon to four years and three months, and Lashi to a two-year suspended sentence. The remaining defendants were sentenced separately:
- Reece Stovell, 29, of Westgate-on-Sea: six years
- Harry Hathaway, 32, from Broadstairs: five years and three months
- Klein Taylor, 29, of Ramsgate: three years and four months
- Mitchell Laing, 28, from Thanet: two years and nine months
- Massimo Fierro, 28, from Birchington: two years and eight months
Police Commentary
Investigating officer Detective Constable Martin Lacey commented: "Payne went to great lengths to conceal his criminality by not only running the money through what appeared to be a legitimate business, but he also recruited others to handle the drugs in an effort to distance himself from the criminality."
He added: "This was a large-scale operation which saw over £800,000 of drugs being distributed and supplied throughout east Kent. Many vulnerable drug users were targeted which not only affects their lives but that of their family, and blights local communities. Payne thought his operation was sophisticated and that he wouldn't get found out but his sentencing shows that crime doesn't pay and that if you are involved in criminality you will be caught and you will face the consequences."
