Four jailed up to 22 years for cocaine import plan through Billingsgate fish
Sentences ranged from 13 to 22 years after the Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the gang plotted to hide 600 kg of cocaine in frozen fish, a scheme valued at more than £20 million.
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Four men were sentenced on 29 July 2026 at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of conspiracy to import Class A drugs. The court handed down terms of 22 years to Samuel Tokeley and Nicholas Shilling, 14‑and‑a‑half years to Scott Richards and 13 years to Scott Unwin. The convictions relate to a plan to move about 600 kg of cocaine hidden inside frozen fish shipments that would have been received through a legitimate fish business operating at Billingsgate Market.
Investigation background
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Detectives uncovered the scheme through the now‑dismantled EncroChat platform. Encrypted messages revealed discussions about payments, shipping paperwork, logistics and contacts in Ecuador that were to supply the cocaine. The Met’s specialist crime unit, led by Detective Chief Inspector Dean Grafton, said the gang was operating on an industrial scale. Police estimated the UK street value of the cocaine at more than £20 million, reflecting the scale of the intended operation. The messages also mentioned plans to launder proceeds using cash and cryptocurrency and to use the fish business as a cover for the deliveries.
Sentencing details
Samuel Tokeley, 57, of Alicante, Spain, and Nicholas Shilling, 63, of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, each received 22‑year custodial sentences. Scott Richards, 51, of Wickford, Essex, was ordered to serve 14‑and‑a‑half years, while Scott Unwin, 52, of Dagenham, Essex, received 13 years. The judge noted the seriousness of importing a Class A drug in quantities that would have represented a major influx to the UK market. The court also recorded that the importation never took place because the operation was intercepted before the cargo arrived.
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The defendants believed that encrypted communication platforms would protect them as they discussed vast quantities of drugs, laundering criminal profits and exploiting legitimate businesses to facilitate their offending.
Dean Grafton, Detective Chief Inspector
Implications and next steps
The Metropolitan Police said the case demonstrates the reach of organised crime networks that use legitimate supply chains to mask illegal activity. The force worked with the National Crime Agency and international partners to disrupt the plot. No further arrests were announced, and the defendants have the right to appeal their sentences. Metropolitan Police will continue to monitor fish import channels for signs of similar misuse, and they have urged businesses to report suspicious documentation.
Questions this report answers
+What prison terms did the men receive?
Samuel Tokeley and Nicholas Shilling were each sentenced to 22 years, Scott Richards received 14‑and‑a‑half years and Scott Unwin was given 13 years. The terms were handed down by Snaresbrook Crown Court on 29 July 2026 after the guilty verdicts.
+How much cocaine were the defendants planning to import?
The plot targeted about 600 kg of cocaine concealed in frozen fish shipments. Police said the quantity would have represented a large influx to the UK market and was intended to be received through a legitimate fish business at Billingsgate Market.
+What was the estimated value of the cocaine in the UK?
Metropolitan Police estimated the UK street value of the cocaine at more than £20 million. The figure reflects the high purity and volume of the drug that the gang intended to distribute.
+What actions will the police take after the sentencing?
The Metropolitan Police will keep monitoring fish import channels for similar misuse and has asked businesses to flag suspicious paperwork. The force, together with the National Crime Agency, will continue to target organised crime networks that exploit legitimate supply chains.
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