RAF sergeant jailed for role in £1 million drug smuggling ring

An RAF sergeant has been jailed for his role in a £1 million drug dealing plot.

David Corentin, 32, was described as a "professional enabler" to organised crime after the National Crime Agency uncovered an operation to supply cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines across London and Essex, Kingston Crown Court.

The serving officer was yesterday jailed for two years and three months after he admitted two counts of money laundering.

Corentin was jailed alongside Dennis Jacobs, 71, and Jason Warner, 48. All three men are from Essex.

The court heard Corentin was stopped by NCA investigators on the A13 in October after they observed Warner place a number of large bags into his vehicle.

When searched, the bags contained more than £500,000 in cash. An encrypted phone was found in the sergeant's car in which officers believe was used to communicate with members of an organised crime gang.

Warner was detained 11 days later after leaving sheltered accommodation - where Dennis Jacobs, his mother's partner lived.

The 71-year-old's flat was searched as officers found high-purity cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines and cannabis resin with an estimated street value of more than £1 million.

Warner pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and three counts of money laundering and was sentenced to eight years and four months.

Jacobs pleaded guilty to three counts of permitting his premises to be used for the production of a controlled substance and one count of money laundering and was sentenced to 12 months.

John Coles, from the NCA, said:"Organised crime groups rely on professional enablers like Corentin, Warner and Jacobs to supply cocaine and other class A and B drugs across the UK.

"They are important links in the chain and disrupting their activities is a key priority for the NCA."