Stephen Lloyd-Jones, 56, and Tiamo Zanaj, 33, have been sentenced to a total of 46 years for their involvement in a high-stakes cocaine smuggling operation. After a five-week trial at Kingston Crown Court, the two men were convicted of conspiring to smuggle 350kg of cocaine into the UK.
Lloyd-Jones was sentenced to 24 years, while Zanaj received 22 years. A third suspect, Kursat Kizilkaya, 33, will be sentenced at a later date.
In February 2023, Lloyd-Jones, Zanaj, and Kizilkaya were apprehended after returning to Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne, having transported the illicit haul from a cargo ship in the English Channel. The drugs, worth up to £35 million on the street, had been hidden on a boat owned by Lloyd-Jones, called the “Well Plumbed.”
Lloyd-Jones, described as the operation’s leader, purchased the £100,000 boat for the smuggling mission. Equipped with advanced technology like radar, satellite communication, and a winch capable of lifting tons of cargo, the boat was used to meet a large container ship in the Channel north of Guernsey. The drugs were loaded into waterproof bags, with each containing 25 blocks of cocaine wrapped in 1kg packets.
Despite extensive preparation, the operation hit several snags. Severe weather conditions and damage to the boat resulted in the loss of half the drugs. However, 350kg of cocaine, valued at up to £9 million at wholesale, was recovered.
Prosecutors revealed that Lloyd-Jones had lied about the boat’s purpose, claiming it was intended for commercial diving and not for smuggling drugs. He and Zanaj minimized their roles by suggesting they were coerced, but evidence showed they were key participants in the operation, motivated by the substantial financial rewards.
Paul Goddard, a representative from the Crown Prosecution Service, emphasized that the two men knew precisely what they were doing and were aware of the immense value of the drugs being smuggled.
The sentencing of Lloyd-Jones and Zanaj sends a strong message to criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. The Crown Prosecution Service continues to take a firm stance against such activities, working tirelessly to disrupt organized crime and bring offenders to justice.