Three men sentenced for drug offences

Pictured left to right: Matthew Carley, Daniel London and Christoffel Van Rossum

Three men have been sentenced for over 22 years in prison collectively for drug offences.

Christoffel Van Rossum, aged 48, of Crittall Court, Witham, Daniel London, aged 33, of Egyptian Goose Road, Norwich and Matthew Carley, aged 54 and of Breck Road, Norwich all appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday 23 May 2024 to be sentenced for conspiracy to supply class A drug, namely cocaine.

It relates to a series of incidents between 2019 and 2020 where the group of men worked together to supply and distribute multiple kilogrammes of cocaine in Norfolk.

On 19 June 2019, a vehicle was stopped by police in King’s Lynn. 1kg of cocaine was found under the driver’s seat and all occupants are arrested. A mobile phone was seized which contained an exchange of messages from Daniel London discussing the supply of cocaine. There is also a video of a large block of white powder being cut up. A fingerprint from the hand in the video is matched to London.

On 14 July 2019, London was stopped by police in Great Yarmouth. Officers seized his mobile phone. A download of the phone shows links to the mobile numbers previously found to be discussing the supply of cocaine in June.

On 17 March 2020, London and Van Rossum met in Horsford to exchange 2kg of cocaine. London gave Van Rossum £56,885 cash. Following their meeting, London made off from police but Van Rossum was arrested in possession of the cash. Two mobile phones were seized from him and he was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and was later charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property, namely the £56,885 in cash. He was later released on bail until his next court date.

Matthew Carley was using the EncroChat encrypted platform to arrange the purchase, delivery and distribution of commercial amounts of cocaine at a time over a protracted period of time. Carley also organised drug debts and monies owed, to be paid to him, for the large amounts of cocaine he sold.

Messages dated from 4 December 2019 reveal a connection between London and Carley which imply it is Carley who has introduced London to the conspiracy. There are a significant number of calls between the two men.

On 11 April 2020, Carley attends London’s home address to discuss the debt owed following Van Rossum’s arrest. They have fallen out as a result of the debt. London calls the police reporting people acting suspiciously in the area and Carley is stopped by police. No further action is taken at this point.

On 9 December 2020, officers conduct a search warrant on Carley’s home address in Norwich. He is arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine. A large number of mobile phone and an estimated £24,000 in cash is seized, as well as a large quantity of suspected counterfeit clothing.

On the same day, a search warrant is conducted at an address linked to London in Horsford. He is located at the property and also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Both men are taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. They are both charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and remanded into custody until their next court date.

They were all sentenced today (Thursday 23 May 2024). Their sentences are as follows:

• Christoffel Van Rossum – 8 years imprisonment
• Daniel London – 6 years and 9 months
• Matthew Carley – 7 years and 6 months imprisonment

Ds Eddie Hammond from the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “We will not tolerate drug related crime in Norfolk.

“All three individuals were responsible and had key roles which enabled the supply of commercial quantities of cocaine to be distributed across Norfolk. Carley organised his drug dealing business via the EncroChat platform which he believed would go undetected from Law Enforcement.

“Their sentences reflect the hugely detrimental impact this type of offending has on our local communities.  We will continue to work to disrupt those who continue to try and establish drug lines in our county.”