A DRUG kingpin ran his UK cocaine empire while hiding from cops with his glam girlfriend in luxury apartments in Thailand.
Vejay Samuels flooded the streets of Nottingham with cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis over a 15-month period.
The 30-year-old continued running the network even when he fled the UK to live the high life in Thailand – all while evading police.
He and girlfriend Hannah Cwynar splurged their ill-gotten gains on fancy apartments and expensive tourist activities.
Samuels was pictured at the wheel of a boat in a sailor’s hat and in water beside an elephant.
He was able to splash the cash after funds from drug empire were transferred to bank accounts belonging to Cwynar and his ex Charlotte Franklyn.
Samuels was eventually snared on his birthday when he returned to the UK in January 2024.
He has now been jailed for 14 years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
Cwynar and Franklyn received suspended sentences for money laundering.
A further eight associates were all jailed after they were convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Samuels and his crew used two dedicated drugs phone lines to peddle Class A and B drugs between August 2022 and November 2023.
Police managed to track down a number of key players, which led to Samuels’ arrest.
Two of the associates, Jake Worrall and Gary Castledine, were snared in April 2023 after police pulled them over.
Large quantities of crack cocaine were discovered along with fingerprints belonging to Lyndon Wilson.
His home was searched and officers seized bulk quantities of Class A and Class B drugs.
Police also arrested Andrew Mitchell, whose job travelling to Huddersfield and Bradford to collect the drugs before bringing them back to Nottingham.
Fingerprints belonging to Mitchell, Wilson and Samuels were all found on items seized during the raid at Wilson’s home in September 2023.
A further associate, Joseph Gavin, was also arrested which led to the discovery of the two phone lines.
Andrew Mitchell was jailed for 11 years, Gavin for ten, Worrall for 12 years and Dale Mitchell was sentenced to five years.
Other associates – including Sophie Goodwin, Gary Castledine, Francesca Calamiello and Damien Bohan – were also jailed.
Detective Constable Emma Grimley, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said:
“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.
“Thankfully, and after a lengthy police investigation, those responsible for flooding the streets of Nottingham with Class A and Class B drugs have now been brought to justice.”
