East Preston man to be sentenced for his role in drug sting

Barry Harlow, 65, of Arlington Crecent, has pleaded guilty to his role in the drugs ring after Sussex Police mounted an operation to crack down on the distribution of the class A drug.

Today (Friday, January 13), four men have been sentenced for a total of more than 30 years for their part in the gang. Harlow is yet to be sentenced for his role.

Harlow was arrested on April 1 inside his car, at the Cottesmore Golf and Country Club, Buchan Hill, near Crawley, during a sting operation carried out by detectives from the serious and organised crime unit.

Harlow, was arrested alongside Albert Mouhtiseb, 26, of South Croydon, Surrey, after police discovered a package containing cocaine, worth an estimated street value of £450,000, inside his car.

Officers also seized £24,000 of cash from Mouhtiseb.

Shortly afterwards detectives went to a business unit at nearby White Herons Farm, in Colgate, and arrested Sussex men, Darren Henwood, 37, of Faygate, Andrew Billings, 33, of Bracklesham Bay and Charles Smith, 41, of Cucksfield.

Equipment used for cutting and preparing cocaine was discovered after a search of the site.

Following further investigation by police, Mark Taylor, 36, of no fixed address and another man, Lee Burton-Asante, 43, were also arrested.

Earlier today, at Hove Crown Court, gang members Mouhtiseb, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to seven years, alongside used car salesman Henwood, 37, who had pleaded guilty, was received a six-and-a-half-year sentence.

Billings, a motor dealer, was also sentenced to-six-and-a-half-years after pleading not guilty.

The other gang member to be sentenced today, Smith, was jailed for four years, after he pleaded not guilty.

Detective Chief Inspector Ali Eaton said police would “relentlessly” target drug dealers like this, adding that Harlow had acted as the courier for the gang.

He said: “Henwood was the ringleader of this group, closely supported by Billings, with Harlow acting as a courier.

“Taylor had passed the drugs on to Mouhtiseb, who was also a key member, for onward sale to Henwood and no doubt for later distribution when cut on to the streets of Sussex.

“It was particularly satisfying for us to be able to dismantle an entire drugs distribution operation from initial couriers to the principal and his associates.

“Criminals like this need to know that we will relentlessly target them and bring them to justice, in the interests of all law abiding people and local communities.”

The sentencing of Harlow and Taylor has been adjourned to a later date.

Burton-Asante was acquitted of the charge against him.

Police added that there was no suggestion of any involvement in the case of the staff at the golf club or the farm.