Justice catches up with ringleader of drugs gang which had two South Londoners as members

The eighth member of a drug dealing network which included a man from Greenwich and another from Welling has been jailed.

Aaron Wise, 33, from Ealing, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Wise is the most recent member of the drugs network to be sentenced after officers spent more than a year gathering evidence and collating data to ensure those involved saw justice.

The group was distributing cocaine across all of west and east London, fuelling drug addiction.

Gareth Morris 58, of Eastview Avenue, Greenwich, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, September 24, 2021.

Jack Lee 35, of Lulwroth Road, Welling, plead guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on the same day.

Others in the gang already brought to justice include Lee Willetts 31, of Pembroke Road, Greenford, who was given seven years, Matthew OBrien 34, of Northdown Close, Ruislip, who was sentenced to 15 years and nine months in March 18 2022, Georgie Norris 23, of Burnham Way, Ealing – given 12 years and eight months, Mark Breagan 41, of Evergreen Court, Ealing – 10 years and four months and Alfie Whitbread 23, of Cambridge Road, Ealing – eight years, 10 months.

James Lee, 58, formally of Darcy Court, West Malling, is the only outstanding member of the group and is wanted by police.

If you have any information you are asked to call 101 or you can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Met officers analysed more than four years worth of phone data to unravel the true extent of the network’s reach across London. The court heard how the gang supplied more thn 100kg of cocaine to Londoners between 2019-2020 – an estimated street value of £8 million.

Wise was the mastermind behind the organisation and in charge of splitting the network into drug couriers and cash couriers, making the group almost transient and harder for officers to track down.

Met detectives spent weeks keeping members of the gang under surveillance across London as they built a watertight case against the group, compiling evidence and piecing together their illicit movements.

When officers started arresting members of the network, Wise fled the country. The Met worked with Spanish authorities and tracked him down to Marbella.

Detective Constable Gary Jopling, leading the investigation, said: “We know the impact drugs have on our communities.

“They lead to addiction, antisocial behaviour and violence, destroying people’s lives and ripping families apart. That’s why we’re pursuing those who seek to profit from the illegal drugs trade and fuel these destructive addictions.

“We are determined to keep dangerous people off the streets of London to tackle drug criminality and make the capital a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”

Pictured top: Aaron Wise (left) and the still-wanted James Lee (right) (Pictures: The Met)