Mechanic jailed in landmark case helping Watford Organised Crime Group
Michael Webb made secret compartments for the group to store and move drugs around without police detection
A mechanic from Colney Heath has been jailed for six years in prison for participating in the activities of a Watford Organised Crime Group (OCG).
49-year-old Michael Webb was arrested in October 2020, following investigation's from Hertfordshire Police, where it was suspected Webb was making secret compartments for OCG members to conceal and move drugs and cash, undetected by Police.
During his court case, Webb admitted to making concealments in 15 vehicles, enabling conspiracy to supply large amounts of cocaine.
He appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 12 April, where he was sentenced to six years for participating in the activities of an organised crime group and three years for being concerned in the supply of cocaine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Detective Inspector Grant Finnie, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Relentless team, said: “This is the latest member of the OCG we investigated as part of Operation Distant, who were running a drug supply network in the Watford area. We have successfully dismantled the OCG which was causing so much misery and criminality in that part of the county, jailing more than 21 members, who are now serving a combined 174 years in prison.
“This will send a message to anyone involved not only in drug dealing but also anyone creating the infrastructure that facilitates it, that Hertfordshire is a hostile environment for organised crime groups and they will be pursued relentlessly. This conviction for participation in the activities of an organised crime group by making vehicle concealments is the first of its kind in Hertfordshire and no other examples have yet been found across the UK.
“Organised crime groups use violence, supply drugs and commit a whole range of crimes that pose a real threat to the community. Operation Relentless is Hertfordshire Constabulary’s response to this on-going threat. As part of this work, we depend on information from members of the public to help us crack down on drug-related crime. Any information you can provide, no matter how small it may seem, could help us to identify and apprehend drug dealers.”