Bristol drugs gang jailed for decades for cocaine supply

Members of a gang involved in supplying millions of pounds worth of drugs have been jailed for a total of 35 years.

Leader Anes Troudi, 40, from Fishponds, Bristol, was jailed for 17 years after admitting conspiracy to supply up to 50kg of cocaine.

Adnan Malik, 33 from St Anne's in Bristol, Carl Powell, 50, of Paulton and Gary Browne, 39 from Radstock pleaded guilty to their involvement.

They were sentenced on Friday at Bristol Crown Court.

Ben Samples, head of the complex casework unit for CPS South West said: "Their intention was clear, to make as much money as possible with no regard to the misery and destruction that is caused by this activity."

Troudi, who police said played a leading role, was sentenced for conspiracy to supply up to 50kg of cocaine with a street value of £5m, between January 2020 and January 2021.

Investigators tracked the extent of his offending through EncroChat, an encrypted communications platform used by organised crime groups.

Messages showed he was arranging the onward supply of drugs to associates Malik and Browne.

The investigation was led by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) using data provided by Operation Venetic - an international investigation targeting EncroChat.

Although EncroChat alerted its users that its platform had been infiltrated by police and advised them to destroy their handsets, Troudi continued to use it.

Malik, who was arrested in November 2022, also used an EncroChat phone which yielded evidence.

He was sentenced to nine years for conspiracy to supply six kilos of cocaine bought from Troudi.

Jewellery and designer clothes with a value of more than £100,000, and a Porsche were also seized from his home.

Browne was sentenced to seven years and six months for conspiracy to supply 5kg of cocaine which he purchased from Troudi, as well as possession with intent to supply a further three-quarters of 1kg of cocaine and 40kg of cannabis.

Officers who arrested him in November 2022 also found £32,000 in cash in his van.

Powell was a trusted associate of Browne and took possession of the drugs in order to conceal them, the court was told.

He received a suspended prison sentence and a five-month curfew order.

Det Insp Matt Houghton of SWROCU, said: "Troudi, Malik and Browne were embedded in organised crime and I'm pleased to see the court handed down significant sentences to them.

"The assets seized from Malik alone show the amount of money being made and the lifestyle being financed through the distribution of harmful drugs."

Mr Samples added: "Today's result sends a loud message to those involved - we will not tolerate this activity and will not hesitate to prosecute those found to be involved in the supply of dangerous drugs."

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