Norfolk man jailed for 12 years over 'Deliveroo' drugs plot
The 50 year old bought fake Deliveroo uniforms in an attempt to move cocaine undetected
A Norfolk drug dealer has been handed a 12 year prison sentence after plotting to use fake Deliveroo drivers to sell cocaine and cannabis.
50 year old Robert Fuller, of Smallburgh Road, Pennygate, was caught after messages posted on the criminal messaging app Encrochat proved he was involved in the import of drugs into the UK.
He also attempted to purchase a Makarov handgun from other criminals.
Officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) discovered Fuller had bought fake Deliveroo outfits, which he was planning to give to couriers as they moved drugs across the county.
He also planned to import liquid cocaine in jars of asparagus from Peru. His vehicle was found to contain hidden compartments to conceal his criminal wares.
Fuller planned to launder money from his drug dealing operation through his Norwich-based car sales business.
Fuller had been involved in the sale of around 159kg of cocaine, netting him around £6.5m. He also dealt around 98kg of cannabis worth £364,000 between February 2019 and June 2020.
After the Encrochat system was compromised by police Fuller fled to Bali, but he was arrested in January 2022 after trying to get back into the UK via Ireland.
He subsequently admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on October 31.
Detective Inspector Jim Fincham, from ERSOU, said: “Robert Fuller was a high-level criminal who, it’s clear, played a significant role in selling class A drugs across the UK.
“He went to great lengths to mask his activity, using hides in vehicles and disguised couriers to move cash and drugs, and laundering the illicit cash through a car sales company.
“Despite Fuller’s attempts to evade justice, our diligent investigators continued their enquiries after he had left the county, and police were waiting the moment he arrived back into the UK.
“Our region is a safer place now that he is behind bars, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing him to justice.”