Two men from Larkfield have been jailed for their part in a conspiracy to ship pure cocaine into Kent from the continent.

Nicolas Anthony Chappell, 47, of New Hythe Lane, and David Michael Manser, 26, of Lunsford Lane, were part of a five-strong gang that used high speed inflatable boats to smuggle cocaine in from France between September 2007 and March 2008.

The gang were sentenced to a total of 54 years in jail at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Chappell - pinpointed by Judge Griffiths Jones as a "ringleader" - was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for conspiring to supply cocaine and laundering cash.

Police searching his home in 2008 found high grade cocaine worth more than £70,000, a large amount of cash, the inflatable boat and various items of sea equipment.

The finds followed an investigation which began in 2007, when a member of the public saw a high speed inflatable boat land on a beach at Hythe.

Witnesses reported seeing the boat and its occupants being met by four men on the beach. Several black holdalls were loaded from the boat to a waiting vehicle that was then driven away at speed.

The witness immediately called police who found four men loading the boat onto a van. The men claimed to have been fishing despite having no seawater fishing equipment, adequate clothing, provisions or safety gear.

On Thursday March 27 2008 a similar incident was again witnessed on the same beach. This time the witness gave crucial evidence describing what, in his opinion, was a drug smuggling operation being executed like a military operation.

Officers from The Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) East investigated and quickly traced those involved.

Marine equipment including other inflatable boats suspected of being used in September 2007 were found at the home and business premises of one of the other offenders, 33-year-old Neil Hackett, from Bexleyheath.

Detective Sergeant John McDermott, of SOCU, led the investigation. He said: "This is a very satisfying conclusion to what has been an intensive, meticulous and lengthy investigation across both Kent, London and northern France involving painstaking work by my dedicated team of detectives and the Crown Prosecution Service.

"The five men sentenced today were part of a significant organised crime group that was probably one of the most prolific gangs involved in this type of criminality.

"Throughout the investigation they lied, tried to divert my investigators' attention away from the facts and refused to co-operate when questioned.

"In dismantling this group and bringing these men to justice, we have probably saved lives. Drug trafficking fuels all sorts of criminality and has a devastating effect on the lives of already vulnerable people.

"This sentence sends a clear message to anyone involved in this type of crime. Kent Police is determined to prosecute offenders and strip them of their assets."

On sentencing, Judge Griffiths Jones described the drug smuggling operation as: "A well planned and drilled operation using high powered inflatable boats to travel to France in what was an organised commercial enterprise involving substantial quantities of cocaine.

"Those involved in this enterprise sought to make huge profits from human misery."

In relation to Mr Chappell the judge said: "I have no doubt that Mr Chappell was at the heart of this operation and the ringleader who recruited others."

As the principle operator and organiser Chappell had extra aggravating factors after having previously been caught for a similar offence in 1999.
Neil Hackett was described as a trusted lieutenant of Chappell's.

Chappell, Neil Hackett, and 25-year-old Jamie Hackett, also from Bexleyheath, pleaded guilty to conspiring to import and supply cocaine.

Neil Hackett received 11 years and a three year travel restriction order that applies from the day he is released, while Jamie Hacket received nine years.

Manser, and another offender Giedrius Kavaliauskas, 28, from Worthing, pleaded guilty to conspiring to import and supply cocaine and received eight years each.

Paul Andrew Proud, 47, of Russett Way, London was acquitted.

Since the high profile investigation, Kent Police say they have formed an alliance with other forces in the south east to better protect coastlines and waterways.

Project Kraken aims to co-ordinate the marine community, neighbourhood police officers, police community support officers and the general public to report any suspicious behaviour on Kent's coastline and inland waterways.

It also seeks to make people aware of what comprises suspicious activity in the marine environment and involves the public and private sectors working together to reduce a range of offending including drug smuggling, theft, human trafficking and terrorism.