UK Footballers Jailed for Total of 104 Years Over £260M Cocaine Empire

UK police have dismantled a drug gang composed of semi-professional footballers who conspired to supply cocaine worth an estimated €305 million on the street.

The group received sentences totaling over 104 years at Isleworth Crown Court in London on May 17, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine at an earlier hearing.

Seized coke (MET Police)

The gang included Adam Pepara (35) of Enfield Town FC, who was sentenced to 29 years, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick (29) of Chesham United, who received 26 years, Jamarl Joseph (28) of FK Senica, who was given 26 years, Andrew Harewood (34) of Harrow FC, who was sentenced to 24 years, Melchi Emanuel-Williamson (29) of Margate FC, who received 21 years, and Luke Skeete (36), who was sentenced to 22 years.

“This was not a minor operation but a highly organized criminal group supplying drugs on an industrial scale throughout the UK,” said Police Constable Perry from Specialist Crime North MET police.

“The sentences reflect the gravity of their actions. These were individuals with promising careers who chose to profit from drugs that fuel misery and violence on our streets,” Perry added.

Coke being loaded on CCTV (Met Police)

Detective Constable Janes, also from Specialist Crime North, emphasized the breakthrough in the investigation: “Skeete’s arrest was the turning point. We secured valuable evidence from his mobile phone, which led us to identify his conspirators.”

Skeete had previously been sentenced to 15 years in July 2023 for possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine), possession with intent to supply class B drugs (ketamine), supplying cocaine, and driving while disqualified.

Margate FC

He was initially stopped by police in October 2022 while driving a small panel van, which contained 8kg of cocaine. A video recovered from the vehicle showed Skeete transferring a holdall of drugs.

Following Skeete’s arrest, a further 123kg of cocaine and 224kg of ketamine were found in storage units in west London under his control.

Investigators found a secure messaging platform on Skeete’s phone and began examining the users, eventually identifying the group despite their attempts to conceal their identities.

The group chats revealed a sophisticated, professional business model for supplying cocaine across the UK.

Detectives spent countless hours analyzing CCTV footage showing gang members accessing the storage unit with drugs concealed in holdalls and boxes.

Massive stash of coke and ketamine (Met Police)

Between April 10, 2022, and October 20, 2022, the gang conspired to supply over 2.7 tonnes of high-grade cocaine, valued between £208,160,000 and £260,200,000 on the street.

CCTV (Met Police)

On September 28, 2023, Specialist Crime officers executed arrest warrants at addresses linked to the group in London and Birmingham.

UK police footage (Met)

All individuals were located, arrested, charged, and remanded in custody.

“This case demonstrates that involvement in drug trafficking leads to significant jail time,” Perry said. “Anyone considering this path should look at these sentences and think again, as it’s only a matter of time before you are caught.”