(London, UK, 20th) – A 65-year-old woman named Mason from the UK secretly operated a drug trafficking network centered around her family, even mobilizing her children and relatives to plan numerous cocaine smuggling operations. In just 7 months, they smuggled over 356 kilograms of drugs with a black market value as high as £80 million (456 million MYR), drawing public attention.
The BBC reported that Mason outwardly appeared to be a kind grandmother but was actually the head of a drug trafficking ring. She planned and directed her family members in large-scale cocaine smuggling operations, organizing at least 20 trafficking missions over a 7-month period. Police estimate the total quantity of drugs exceeds 356 kilograms, with a black market value of approximately 456 million MYR.
Prosecutors pointed out that this group operated with a high degree of secrecy and was highly family-oriented. Mason recruited four children, their partners, and her sister to participate, with each smuggling job earning about £1,000 (5,707 MYR). The drugs were mostly packaged in supermarket shopping bags and discreetly transported by couriers across the UK. The entire family communicated using encrypted messaging apps and kept in touch with a drug supplier known by the alias “Bugsy.” Prosecutor Hall remarked, “This is an extremely tightly-knit, family-based, highly efficient drug network.”
The profits from drug trafficking enabled Mason to live a life of luxury, including purchasing various luxury goods and accessories. Hall said that during the period of offense, Mason was still receiving £50,000 (285,300 MYR) in social welfare benefits and even planned to travel to Turkey for cosmetic surgery. Hall criticized, “Mason single-handedly turned her family into a crime machine, all to satisfy her lust for wealth and power.” The judge ultimately sentenced Mason to 20 years in prison, with her children and accomplices also receiving sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years each.
The BBC reported that Mason outwardly appeared to be a kind grandmother but was actually the head of a drug trafficking ring. She planned and directed her family members in large-scale cocaine smuggling operations, organizing at least 20 trafficking missions over a 7-month period. Police estimate the total quantity of drugs exceeds 356 kilograms, with a black market value of approximately 456 million MYR.
Prosecutors pointed out that this group operated with a high degree of secrecy and was highly family-oriented. Mason recruited four children, their partners, and her sister to participate, with each smuggling job earning about £1,000 (5,707 MYR). The drugs were mostly packaged in supermarket shopping bags and discreetly transported by couriers across the UK. The entire family communicated using encrypted messaging apps and kept in touch with a drug supplier known by the alias “Bugsy.” Prosecutor Hall remarked, “This is an extremely tightly-knit, family-based, highly efficient drug network.”
The profits from drug trafficking enabled Mason to live a life of luxury, including purchasing various luxury goods and accessories. Hall said that during the period of offense, Mason was still receiving £50,000 (285,300 MYR) in social welfare benefits and even planned to travel to Turkey for cosmetic surgery. Hall criticized, “Mason single-handedly turned her family into a crime machine, all to satisfy her lust for wealth and power.” The judge ultimately sentenced Mason to 20 years in prison, with her children and accomplices also receiving sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years each.