Selsey beach cocaine smugglers jailed for more than 100 years over £40m drugs haul

The 12 members of the organised crime group were sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on November 5 and 6, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Officers were waiting for the gang on August 19, 2024, as they brought 16 bales of cocaine onto the West Sussex beach after recovering the drugs from the sea.

A spokesperson for the NCA said: “The consignment, which had an estimated street value of £40 million, had been dropped into the water around 40 nautical miles south of the Needles, west of the Isle of Wight, by an accomplice crew aboard a container ship.

“The cocaine was packaged in waterproof bundles, each fitted with a GPS tracker, and had a reported purity of approximately 85 per cent.

“The operation involved several members of the gang travelling out to sea to recover the drugs before bringing them ashore for distribution to other criminal groups across the UK.

“Daniel Jamieson, 41, and Sam Brown, 33, were identified as the leading figures behind the conspiracy.

“Jamieson, of Ramsden Heath, Essex, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, while Brown received 16 years and six months.

Jamieson had posed as a legitimate businessman and used a false name to purchase a maritime business, giving him access to the rigid-hulled inflatable boat, named Amma Sigga, used to recover the cocaine.

“Brown played a key role in recruiting others, including his friend Harry Kennedy, 38, who was sentenced to nine years after admitting conspiracy to smuggle cocaine.

“Another key member, Carl Powner, 62, of Stoke-on-Trent, received 13 years. He recruited drivers, purchased equipment and sailed out to recover the drugs. He fled abroad but was arrested in Romania in May 2026 before being extradited to the UK.

“Adil Nolan, 40, who helped Powner recover the cocaine, was jailed for 11 years and three months.

“Oil rig worker David Paterson, 49, received 14 years after an earlier attempt to recover the drugs failed.

“Paterson had sailed from Haslar Marina in Portsmouth on August 17, receiving instructions from Lewis Watts, 37, who was onshore.

“Messages recovered during the investigation showed Watts telling him: “Big ship has passed you, flash lights.”

“He later added: “Big ship has passed you, chase it and flash lights.”

“However, the tracking devices had failed to transmit a signal and Paterson returned to shore empty-handed.

“Watts, described as Jamieson's right-hand man, was also sentenced to 14 years.

“Five other offenders were involved in the landing party at Medmerry Beach. Four men received 20-month prison sentences, while Charlotte Blenman, 34, received a 20-month suspended sentence.”

Jules Harriman, senior investigating officer at the NCA, added: “The main players from this conspiracy are facing very long periods behind bars. Had their smuggling attempt worked, these toxic drugs would have brought misery and violence to many communities around the country.

“The crime group responsible for supplying these offenders has lost their drugs and massive profits that can no longer be ploughed back into further offending.

“Working with partners such as Border Force, the NCA will continue to do all it can to protect the public from the threat of Class A drugs.”