Organised crime group jailed for almost 60 years for supplying drugs worth over £300k

Seven members of an organised crime group have been jailed for a combined total of almost 60 years for supplying drugs with a street value of £310,000. As part of the operation, 5kg of cocaine and 52kg of herbal cannabis were seized.

The men all appeared at Norwich Crown Court today (May 31) after pleading guilty at earlier hearings. The court heard how the men were all part of a group led by Artur Januskiewicz, 36, of Verbena Road, Cringleford, which brought cocaine and cannabis into Norfolk before running it into Kessingland in Suffolk. An operation led by the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious and Organised Crime unit began in 2021.

In July, Edward Dygus, 44, Redpoll Road, Costessey, was seen in the Longwater area of Norwich, exchanging packages believed to be drugs and money with people in unknown vehicles. Intelligence showed he also met Ben Houghton, 22, of no fixed address, Lowestoft, in Kessingland several times, exchanging bags of cocaine or suitcases of cannabis.

Dygus was arrested at his home on Redpoll Road in Costessey on July 28 after meeting Kola at Longwater. Officers searched the property on Redpoll Road and found more than 3kg of cocaine and six large suitcases and a large laundry bag containing 40kg of cannabis.

Arjan Kola, 32, Whitefield Road, Bristol, was arrested in Essex later that day with more than £108,000 cash – the cost of 3kg of cocaine. Following Dygus’ arrest, further investigations revealed Sigitas Ablonskis, 29, of Scott Road, Norwich, took over his role. Intelligence from August showed he would take deliveries of packages believed to be cocaine near his home on Scott Road, and meet with Houghton in Kessingland.

Phone analysis revealed the movements of both Dygus and Ablonskis were coordinated by Januskiewicz. During the investigation, Kyle Meades, 22, of Marham Road, Lowestoft, was also seen meeting with Dygus, Ablonskis and Januskiewicz on multiple occasions.

He was arrested for an unrelated matter on November 19 and had two phones seized. Analysis of the phones found messages about cocaine and cannabis supply and photos and videos of kilo blocks of cocaine, large laundry bags of herbal cannabis and bundles of thousands of pounds of cash.

On December 8, further intelligence led officers to carry out searches at the homes of Ablonskis, Januskiewicz, Houghton and Tommy Azahri, 27, of Nursery Close, Norwich. Ablonskis was arrested outside his home on Scott Road with 2kg of cocaine. Officers found 12kg herbal cannabis and drug paraphernalia inside the property.

Januskiewicz was arrested at his home on Verbena Road. During the search he snapped a phone and attempted to flush it down the toilet. A vast amount of cash was seized from Tommy Azahri’s home.

The details of their charges and sentences are detailed below.

• Sigitas Ablonskis was jailed for 11 years 3 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and money laundering.
• Tommy Azahri was jailed for 2 years for being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and money laundering.
• Ben Houghton was jailed for 10 years 5 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.
• Artur Januskiewicz was jailed for 14 years 5 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.
• Edward Dygus was jailed for 9 years for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and money laundering.
• Arjan Kola was jailed for 5 years 3 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs, money laundering and failing to disclose a PIN for a phone.
• Kyle Meades was jailed for 6 years 9 months for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.

Detective Sergeant Eddie Hammond from Norfolk Constabulary said: “This case shows Norfolk Constabulary’s dedication to tackling serious organised crime and disrupting those who continue to try and supply drugs in our local communities.”

“I would encourage anyone with information, relating to those who supply controlled drugs in our communities, to report it to your local Police station or Crimestoppers. Your help and support are what enables us to prevent the harm and upset caused by illegal drugs trade.”