A fugitive rapper known as C Montana has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for operating a sophisticated drug smuggling ring that generated an estimated £1 million per month. The conviction came after police identified him through his distinctive gold chain, which connected him to encrypted communications on the EncroChat network used by organised criminals.
The Rise and Fall of C Montana
Arlten Lewis-Turner, 35, who built a following of 34,000 Instagram fans under his stage name C Montana, was originally charged with drug smuggling offences in 2020. The rapper, who had appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra's 'Voice of the Streets' segment in 2018 and released music videos including 'Drug Dealer' and 'Big Rich', found his musical career overshadowed by serious criminal allegations.
The EncroChat Connection
Lewis-Turner's legal troubles began in April 2020 when French authorities successfully infiltrated EncroChat, a Dutch encrypted mobile phone system used by approximately 60,000 organised criminals worldwide. The historic and ongoing call and message data intercepted from this network was shared with the UK's National Crime Agency, which subsequently distributed relevant information to local police forces including the Metropolitan Police.
Through this intelligence, police identified Lewis-Turner as the operator behind the anonymous EncroChat handle 'thetrap'. The breakthrough came when investigators noticed that 'thetrap' first connected to UK mobile networks on April 24, 2020 - the exact same day Lewis-Turner arrived at Heathrow Airport. Crucially, CCTV footage captured him wearing a distinctive metal necklace bearing the words 'Unique CM'.
The Evidence Mounts
This same necklace was later discovered during a police search of Lewis-Turner's luxury apartment at the Discovery Dock Apartments development in Canary Wharf's South Quay Square. Prosecutors presented compelling evidence showing that the main cell site used by the 'thetrap' EncroChat phone was located near these very apartments.
Further damning evidence emerged from May 18, 2020, when the EncroChat phone was detected near the Eurotunnel at Folkestone at 3:31pm. This coincided precisely with Lewis-Turner's journey through the Eurotunnel in his registered Range Rover, captured on multiple CCTV systems.
The Scale of the Operation
The court heard how Lewis-Turner's co-defendant, Nagib Omar, 35, was apprehended on May 19, 2020, after being observed transferring two holdalls from a residential block in Hayes into a white Citroen Berlingo van. Police discovered these bags contained 38 kilograms of heroin and 10 kilograms of cocaine with estimated street values of £3.8 million and £1 million respectively.
Omar was also found in possession of a VSmart EncroChat phone containing communications with the 'thetrap' handle. Prosecutor Tom Nicholson detailed how messages between Omar, 'thetrap', and various suppliers and purchasers revealed the enormous scale of their criminal enterprise.
'They illustrate that Omar, the user of the EncroChat phone, was involved in the high-level wholesale distribution of Class A drugs to numerous brokers and buyers using various EncroChat handles to purchase significant amounts of drugs,' Nicholson explained. 'This gives an idea of the scale of this enterprise, as do the accounting records, referring to a 'tick total', meaning credit extended to those purchasing drugs, of over £1 million.'
Legal Battles and Flight
Following his initial arrest, Lewis-Turner was remanded in custody but surprisingly granted bail in December 2020 despite opposition from both the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police. Footage shared on Instagram showed a jubilant Lewis-Turner being greeted by friends outside HMP Thameside upon his release.
The rapper subsequently released a single titled 'Boss Is Back', featuring lyrics that proclaimed: 'The boss got locked, the boss came back, the boss came back winning.' However, his legal team mounted extensive challenges against the admissibility of EncroChat evidence in British courts, taking the case as far as the European Court of Human Rights.
When these legal challenges ultimately failed, Lewis-Turner absconded from bail in October 2024 after reportedly spending approximately £700,000 on his defence. He was tried and convicted in absentia in March of this year on four counts of drug importation, receiving the 23-year prison sentence.
Current Status and Co-defendant's Fate
Nagib Omar pleaded guilty on November 17, 2023, to one count each of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, along with acquiring and possessing criminal property. He received a 12-year prison sentence for his role in the extensive drug distribution network.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Turner's current whereabouts remain unknown. An underworld source suggested he initially fled to Dubai, but police have been unable to confirm his location. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed: 'Arlten Lewis-Turner remains at large and enquiries to locate him are ongoing. We are actively seeking his whereabouts.'
The case highlights how modern law enforcement techniques, including the interception of encrypted communications and careful analysis of digital evidence, can unravel even sophisticated criminal operations. It also demonstrates how seemingly minor personal details - in this case, a distinctive piece of jewellery - can become crucial evidence in connecting individuals to anonymous criminal activities.
