Columbian criminals, believed to be the first in the UK to process cocaine chemically hidden in bars of hair wax, have been sentenced to jail.
Humberto Caicedo Ramirez, aged 53, and Carlos Barbosa Arias, aged 61, were apprehended during a police raid on their makeshift lab located in a flat in Vauxhall, South London. Law enforcement officers discovered bars of soap prepared for smuggling into the UK containing 3.51 kilograms of cocaine valued at £211,320.
Body camera footage captured the intense moment when the duo was arrested by City of London Police following a tip-off from UK Border Force.
Sebastian Camacho Lopez, a member of the gang, was observed entering a property on October 9, 2024, with a bag suspected to contain Class A drugs. He later returned with Ramirez and Arias, all carrying what appeared to be a petrol can, water bottles, and other items. Lopez left the scene shortly after.
Specialist officers forcibly entered the premises where Ramirez and Arias were found actively processing cocaine in a homemade lab. Arias functioned as the group’s chemist, having arrived in the UK solely to share his expertise in the extraction process.
During the search of the flat, authorities discovered a substantial quantity of cocaine, blending agents, petrol, and various chemicals utilized in the processing. The following day, Lopez was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to distribute cocaine upon his return to the same address.
Ramirez, aged 53, was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after admitting to production and conspiracy to supply. Arias, aged 61, and Lopez, aged 31, received sentences of eight years and six years and seven months, respectively. Jonny Delgado, aged 49, was found guilty in connection with a drug chop house and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Collectively, the group was sentenced to a total of 44 years in prison.
Detective Constable Matt Cooper of City of London Police stated, “This was an incredibly dangerous and sophisticated criminal enterprise, with a chemical extraction lab concealed in a residential area.”
He added, “The large quantities of dangerous chemicals and equipment uncovered by our officers posed a significant risk to the public and could have had catastrophic consequences. City of London Police is equipped with specialist, highly skilled detectives who are relentless in targeting serious and organized criminals, who often believe they can act with impunity.”
Cooper emphasized, “This investigation highlights our efforts to disrupt drug supply networks, not only on our city streets but also nationally and internationally, as criminals employ increasingly intricate methods to transport drugs across borders, including concealing them in everyday items like bars of soap.”
“By dismantling this organized crime group, we have prevented a substantial amount of Class A cocaine from hitting the streets of London and beyond, safeguarding communities and saving lives.”
In a separate case, additional members of the gang were previously convicted in November 2024 for their involvement in the supply network. Arjan Metliaj, a 38-year-old Albanian national, received a sentence of four years and eight months, while Alina Telecan, aged 32, was sentenced to two years and four months.