Final member of drug gang jailed

A man has been jailed for seven years for his part in an Organised Crime Group (OCG) which was responsible for the purchase, supply and distribution of commercial quantities of cannabis and cocaine into Norfolk and Suffolk.

Przemyslaw Mysiala, aged 41, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, drove by car from the Thames Valley area arriving in the Trowse area of Norwich, late morning on Wednesday 8 December 2021. 

He was met by a member of  the organised crime group under investigation who got into his vehicle shortly after he arrived in Norwich.

After a very brief encounter in Trowse, the male left Mysiala’s car and was stopped and detained minutes later close to his home address in the city.

This male was found to be in possession of two kilos of cocaine. Mysiala left Norwich in the vehicle he arrived in and was stopped on the A11 with £72,000 in cash.

Mysiala was charged on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs, and possession of criminal property.

He was the last remaining member of the gang to be sentenced, after seven men were jailed in May 2023 for almost 60 years.

He appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday 8 February 2024 after being found guilty following a five day trial on the 9 January 2024.

He was handed seven years for the supply of drugs and one year for the possession of criminal property, to run concurrently

The court heard that a covert police investigation into the OCG’s involvement in the supply of multiple kilos of cocaine and cannabis began in June 2021.

Surveillance officers gathered a wealth of evidence identifying a number of individuals and key locations in and around Norwich where large quantities of cash and drugs were exchanged.

Investigations lead to three members of the gang being arrested and charged with various drug trafficking offences in July 2021 and remanded in custody.

The operation continued and the gang members arrested were replaced and very quickly identified by the investigation team.

Sigitas Ablonskis, aged 30, of Scott Road, Norwich replaced one of those on remand, taking on the role of receiving and distributing drugs.

He was then placed under police surveillance throughout November and seen running drugs out across Norwich and into Suffolk, on nine occasions.

On 8 December 2021 he met an unknown male in a Mercedes vehicle in Trowse before leaving in his own car.

The Mercedes was stopped and the driver, Mysiala, was found to be in possession of £72,000.

Ablonksis was detained and found to be in possession of 2kg of  high purity cocaine.

Det Sgt Eddie Hammond said: “Members of the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious and Organised Crime Unit worked tirelessly over a long period of time during this complex investigation.

"Mysiala is the last member of the group to be convicted after being found guilty at trial. We would like to thank the jury for their attention and diligence during the trial.

"The convictions achieved during this investigation mark the conclusion of a protracted but successful investigation into this network.  Organised Crime Groups like this make serious money out of commercial drug supply which largely involves exploiting vulnerable people including drug users for financial gain.

"This causes misery to all involved including the families of those who are addicted to drugs and the communities around them.

"Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies will continue to actively seek and disrupt organised drug networks, bringing those involved to justice."