A man accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the UK was tracked to a campsite in Grantham this week and arrested.
Kevin Machin, 35, from Nottinghamshire, was arrested on Wednesday at the campsite, as a result of police enquiries. He has been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and was remanded in custody at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday) to make an initial appearance at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, August 8.
The search, being led by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), continues for a second Nottinghamshire man who is alleged to also be involved in the drug smuggling.
He is Ian Oldham, 36, known as ‘Iggy’, and described as white and speaking with a Midlands accent. He is 5’7”, of a stocky build, with blue eyes and balding, shaven mousy hair, clean shaven, with the letters ‘JJ’ tattooed on his right arm and two scars on his left arm.
He is currently believed to be in Nottinghamshire. He has links and is known to have recently been in Kirkby, Arnold, Sherwood, Top Valley, Bulwell, Aspley, and Bilborough, but also has contacts elsewhere in the county and in Derbyshire.
Detective sergeant Gary Tattersall, of SEROCU, said: “Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to call 999 at once. You can also call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Four other men were arrested in Kent, Surrey and Derbyshire in a co-ordinated police operation in April. Percy Draper-Smith, 36, of Chertsey Lane, Staines, Adam Vohra, 30, of Welland Road, Hilton, Derbyshire, Nick Alliston, 44, of Simmons Road, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, and Wayne Long, 43, of, Lichfield Close, Mansfield, are currently in custody charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. They are due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing, with a trial date currently set for September 30 at the same court.
A fifth man, aged 31 and from Derbyshire, who was arrested on the same date and released on police bail at that time, is to have no further action taken against him.
The charges followed an investigation by officers from SEROCU, assisted by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), into the alleged importation of Class A drugs into the UK from The Netherlands.