Drugs baron jailed for running cannabis ‘business’ from luxury home

16 November 2011

The members of an organised crime group have today been sentenced to 51 years in prison for importing almost three and a half tonnes of cannabis into the UK.

The seven-man group trafficked the Class B drug hidden in electrical goods including air conditioning parts from The Netherlands over a 12 month period.

In court His Honour Judge Dodgson said: “This was a massive amount of drugs which had considerable damage to the end user. Robert Hastie played a vital role in this sophisticated crime group and showed a total disregard for the law. Only money mattered.”

The SOCA led investigation showed that the criminal organisation was headed up by Hertfordshire-based Robert Hastie, who directed its activity from his luxury home in Goffs Oak.

On 19 November 2009, a consignment of ‘electrical goods’ shipped from The Netherlands was searched by UK Border Agency officials at Felixstowe Port and found to contain 750kg of cannabis packed within 60 heat sealed bags.

SOCA officers substituted the cannabis and followed the load to its delivery address in Thurrock, Essex. Four of the group were arrested at the scene. Forensic evidence linked the shipment to three others including Robert Hastie and his father John.

SOCA intelligence alerted investigators that a further shipment of 500kgs was to leave The Netherlands. This was intercepted after joint working with the Dutch authorities.

The ensuing 18 month SOCA investigation proved Hastie and his associates had smuggled a total of 3.48 tonnes of cannabis into the UK between December 2008 and November 2009.

After a five week trial the jury at Kingston Crown Court found Robert and John Hastie guilty of conspiracy to import controlled drugs along with two others. The other three men had previously pleaded guilty.