Security
Met Police’s Victory Against Crime Group In UK
In a groundbreaking operation, the Metropolitan Police has successfully dismantled an organized crime group, leading to the conviction of 22 criminals who have been sentenced to a collective 160 years in the United Kingdom.
The Met’s Specialist Crime Command conducted a meticulous 15-month investigation into the criminal activities of a notorious gang involved in the supply of Class A drugs and firearms.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of a staggering 200 kilograms of drugs, firearms, ammunition, and significant amounts of cash.
The criminal gang, led by Ross Payton, strategically employed family and friends, including his sister Shainie Payton, her boyfriend Darren Goodge, uncle Lee Souter, cousin Jamie Dennison, and associate Reece Mort.
The gang’s reach extended across London, the Home Counties, and Scotland, utilizing a sophisticated fleet of vehicles equipped with hidden compartments for transporting illicit goods.
Detective Inspector Nikki Owen, leading the investigation, emphasized the profound impact on London’s drug supply and overall safety.
The comprehensive effort by officers not only resulted in the conviction of the core criminals but also identified and protected vulnerable individuals exploited by the gang.
On December 13, at Woolwich Crown Court, the remaining seven members of the gang received sentences totaling 90 years.
Their guilty pleas, backed by overwhelming evidence, underscored the success of the police operation. Throughout 2022, an additional 15 gang members were sentenced in separate hearings.
The key players, including Ross Payton, Shainie Payton, Darren Goodge, Lee Souter, Jamie Dennison, Reece Mort, and Alfie Malone, faced substantial prison terms for their roles in conspiracy, drug supply, and firearms-related offenses.
The Met Police’s commitment to dismantling the criminal network was evident in their persistence and diligence over the course of the investigation.
The operation commenced in March 2020, targeting the supply and distribution of Class A drugs in southeast London. Surveillance revealed a network operating from London to Scotland.
Alfie Malone’s arrest in September 2020 marked a pivotal moment, leading to subsequent arrests and the unraveling of the gang’s extensive criminal activities.
Analysis of Ross Payton’s phone revealed his central role as the OCG leader, orchestrating drug distribution and even conspiring to sell firearms.
Telegram messages exposed the distribution of 115 kilos of Class A drugs, valued at £3,450,000 in wholesale value.
The network’s transactions reached into the millions, spanning the UK.
Beyond the arrests, the investigation identified and supported three vulnerable individuals exploited by the gang. Lower-tier members were also convicted, ensuring a comprehensive disruption of the criminal enterprise.
The sentences handed down to various members, including those lower in the hierarchy, reflect the Met’s commitment to reducing crime and restoring trust within communities.
In addition to the core members, lower-tier individuals faced justice.
Taylor Plumb, Marshall Arthur, Martyn Savill, Ibrahim Saleh, Eddie Peacock, Channing Broderick, Mansur Mustapha, Jake Keys, Navid Jamshidi, Mark Sawyer, Robbie Asaw, Steven Boreham, John Andrews, Daniel Jarvis, and Charlie Keys all received sentences commensurate with their involvement in the criminal activities.
Orji Kalu, the senator representing Abia north, says the federal government should urgently address the growing insecurity in many parts of the country.
In a video posted from China on his social media page on Monday, Kalu warned that terrorists may overrun the south-east region and Borno if no action is taken.
The senator said the worsening security situation requires decisive intervention devoid of politics.
Kalu, who chairs the senate committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), urged the federal government to commit more resources to security agencies to confront the threat.
He warned that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer a matter of political argument but a dire national crisis.
The senator was reacting to a recent warning by Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, who said insurgents have regained control of parts of the state.
Kalu said the situation in Borno mirrors the growing threat in the south-east and called for immediate intervention to prevent a total collapse.
“I want to believe Professor Zulum that the security situation is deteriorating every day, so we need to step up, especially in the south-east,” the lawmaker said.
“Our south-east governors are doing their best to fight insurgency. I would like the federal government to step up security in the south-east because it’s a gateway for people transporting goods from the ports and refineries.”
Kalu also faulted the ongoing disagreement between Zulum and Mohammed Idris, minister of information, over the state of security, insisting the president must be told the truth.
“For me, Professor Zulum and the minister don’t need to argue. These are fundamental issues. If we don’t tell President Tinubu the truth, the place will be ungovernable,” he said.
“So, it is better we tell him the truth on the condition of the insecurity situation in Nigeria.”
He commended the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies, noting that they have shown commitment in the face of limited resources.
“Our Nigerian Army has been doing their best, and I congratulate them — especially the chief of army staff, the inspector-general of police, and other security chiefs — for all the efforts they have been putting in,” he said.
Kalu urged the federal government to channel more funds, equipment, and attention to Borno and the south-east.
“We cannot play politics with insecurity; we should take the art of governance very seriously,” he said.
The senator advised the minister of information to consult security chiefs before issuing public statements on security matters.
“No governor or president wants his people to die, so I urge the minister of information to step down some of the statements he is making about insecurity and should also consult the chief of army staff and the inspector-general of police,” he said.
“The national security adviser has also been on top of his game, but people should stop making statements without consulting the security agencies.”
Kalu expressed confidence in the security leadership, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), and called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in tackling insecurity and rebuilding the economy.
“The DSS will continue to provide information. I believe Tosin is very capable — he is a young lad who is capable,” he said.
“We can rid all these criminals away and build our economy to be strong. Let us stop politics and concentrate on the economy of Nigeria.
“President Tinubu has done his best; let’s support him to build our economy together.”
Zulum recently expressed concerns over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings across the state.
He spoke on April 8 at a security meeting attended by military commanders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders.
On Sunday, Mohammed Monguno, senator representing Borno north, said any government that fails to guarantee the safety of its citizens does not deserve to remain in power.
Speaking in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, after a security meeting, Monguno, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said security is the fundamental purpose of government.
The explosion followed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Boko Haram terrorists on the dilapidated and deserted road which passes through the Sambisa forest.
According to several sources, the explosion happened while cars on a scheduled military-escorted convoy were transporting passengers from Damboa to Maiduguri on Saturday leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
The Maiduguri-Damboa Road links Maiduguri to several local government areas in Southern Borno and has been a hotspot for Boko Haram terrorists for over a decade.
The road was closed to vehicles and commuters until the administration of Babagana Zulum opened the road for passengers to travel to Damboa, Chibok and other LGAs in southern Borno with the help of a military convoy serving as security cover for the commuters.
The convoy traverses the road two times a week after scanning for IED by the military and this has been going on for over two years now.
The injured persons whose numbers are yet to be specified have been conveyed to a hospital in Maiduguri for prompt medical attention.
A student of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has been abducted by unidentified gunmen following an off-campus hostel attack.
Channels reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Istijaba Villa in Unguwar Jeji area of the state.
Witness accounts said five armed men entered the hostel to demand money from students who were taking a walk outside.
But the students refused to give in to their demands, which led to an assault from the attackers.
A resident, who was said to have attempted intervention, was shot dead while a final-year student of economics, simply identified as Madubiya, was whisked away by the assailants.
Responding to the incident, Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, the vice-chancellor of FUBK, visited the scene in the company of the officers from the Kalgo police division and Department of State Services (DSS).
Addressing the students, Zaiyan-Umar said the university is committed to ensuring their safety and security.
It is understood that the VC has communicated the incident to Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi state, through the secretary to the state government and the director of security services at the cabinet office.
As of this reporting, the Kebbi state police command has yet to respond to enquiries about the incident.
In 2021, rumours soared of a planned attack by bandits after a heavy security presence was observed on campus.
At the time, the management of FUBK dismissed the claims.