Charles Gabb and Mark Ruffell prosecuted 18 members of an organised gang, who were sentenced to a combined 33 years and 8 months in prison for their part in the conspiracy to sell cannabis and Class-A drugs.

Between April 2019 and December 2020, the gang imported drugs from Europe, Canada and the US, which were then sold throughout Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset. The proceeds were then converted to Bitcoin in an attempt to hide the funds. In total, police seized over 58 kilos of cannabis worth in excess of £500,000; £38,000 of cash and £50,000 in cryptocurrency; and five antique firearms and numerous other weapons.

The large-scale operation by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit helped change the law on antique gun sales.

The case has been widely reported in national and regional press:

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-64420600
• https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2023-01-27/organised-crime-gang-that-sold-cannabis-and-drugs-dismantled-and-sentenced
• https://www.hampshire.police.uk/news/hampshire/news/news/2023/january-2023/southampton-organised-crime-gang-dismantled-by-police-and-sentenced-to-a-combined-33-years-and-eight-months-in-prison/
• https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/hampshire-drugs-gang-locked-up-and-gun-laws-changed-to-remove-loophole-as-result-of-massive-police-operation-4003161

Charles Gabb has covered every type of serious offence both for the Defence and for the Crown Prosecution Service in the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal. He is also a specialist Jury Advocate. His current workload includes lengthy conspiracy trials which require careful case management and the ability to work with other agencies as a team player.

Mark Ruffell is regularly instructed in heavy weight criminal defence work and is also regularly instructed by the CPS as a grade 4 advocate. He has been instructed as Independent Counsel by the Serious Fraud Office and by HMRC. He is Chancellor of the Diocese of Gloucester and Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese of Winchester. Mark is head of Pump Court Chambers’ Regulatory and Disciplinary Team.

For further information on Charles or Mark’s practice or to instruct them, please contact Tony Atkins, Senior Clerk or Tony George, Senior Criminal Clerk on 020 7353 0711 or via email: clerks@pumpcourtchambers.com.