Greenwich man used van fleet for drug shipments

He was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a string of offences at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday (December 7).

The court heard that Gard bought a franchise in a parcel delivery company, and used the fleet supplied to deliver the drugs to buyers. Police said the company - Birmingham-based UK Mail Ltd - were unaware of his operation, and co-operated with officers when approached.

Metropolitan Police officers from the Fraud Squad worked in partnership with the Greenwich Council Corporate Anti-Fraud Team, and searched several properties linked to Gard. They discovered evidence that he was also illegally subletting his council house in Greenwich, and also owned a number of properties in the UK and Spain.

A search of his home address on October 7 last year uncovered more than £100,000 in cash hidden in a suitcase on top of his wardrobe and drug paraphernalia including scales and re-sealable bags. Police seized the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and also discovered 1.8kg of cocaine and 9oz of cannabis resin in one of the business vans parked outside his house.

He was arrested the same day, but claimed the cash was profit from the business franchise. He argued that the business only delivered post in Southeast London, but eventually pleaded guilty to all three charges during an earlier hearing on September 8 this year.

Gard was sentenced to four years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs, one year for possession with intent to supply class B drugs and one year and three months for deception in relation to benefit fraud. The sentences will run concurrently.

He was also fined £274,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and will face a default sentence of five years if he does not pay.

Detective Constable John Wills, from the MPS Economic and Specialist rime Command, said: "This is a significant result that sees the closure of a successful year long investigation undertaken jointly by the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Borough of Greenwich's Corporate Anti-Fraud Team.

"We will continue our work in prosecuting fraudsters using legitimate businesses as fronts for their criminal activity and we will seek to confiscate all their criminally tainted assets using our powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act."