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Moment that members of international cocaine gang meet to exchange cash captured on camera

The police film depicts the transaction that occurs before the gang that had been led by a jailed drugs lord from his prison cell were imprisoned for a total of 71 years

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

The moment that two members of an international cocaine gang meet to exchange cash on a busy London street that was captured camera has been released by police it he UK.

The footage shows a woman who is operating as a money launderer for the gang with a bag of cash that she intends handing over to an associate in broad daylight.

The police film depicts the transaction that occurs before the gang that had been led by a jailed drugs lord from his prison cell were imprisoned for a total of 71 years.

Darryl Tawiah (42) who was dubbed one of London's top drug dealers was jailed in 2013 but continued to run his organised crime group from behind bars.

Using phones smuggled into jail, Tawiah controlled a number of people on the outside including 59-year-old Rosemond Agyemang, a courier who helped to launder cash through various bank accounts.

She was arrested outside Oval station in south London in July 2019 after she was caught carrying thousands of pounds in cash.

Darryl Tawiah

She was captured on camera as she was making her way to meet Dorian Vaciulis (34) who was working for the Dutch supplier and responsible for collecting both cash and drugs

Vaciulis had been in regular contact with Ali Reza Shokrolahi (31) who worked as a lorry driver for Tawiah's organised crime group (OCG)

He was linked to at least 30 kilograms of cocaine seized at the UK border

Also under Tawiah's control was 37-year-old Steven Johnson, who took delivery of the drugs on the kingpin's instructions and distributed them across London

The organised crime gang is believed to have been behind the importations of at least two tonnes of the class A drug into the UK for sale across London and the South East

In one conversation the Dutch supplier told Tawiah: “I want you to move 50 [kilos] a week, don't talk to me about one,” to which Tawiah replied, “No problem Bro...now that it is good, everybody is calling.....I need to get more money in...

Other conversations involved Tawiah talking about buying cocaine at bulk prices and that he had a desire to sell 'coffee' slang for heroin when he left prison.

Members of the gang (from left) Ali Reza Shokrolahi, Rosemond Agyemang, Dorian Vaciulis, Faisal Guled, Steven Johnson and Darryl Tawiah

He also asked the supplier if he had ever heard of '2C' because 'everybody's asking for it in the West End, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Chelsea...'

The court heard 2C was a reference to liquid GHB, which has been used in instances of 'date rape'.

Tawiah, Vaciulis, Johnson, Agyemang and other gang members were charged with various offences relating to Class A drugs and money laundering after their arrest in March last year an

Faisal Guled (34) a Dutch national living in Camden, worked for the Dutch supplier and was operating a county line selling drugs across London and Northampton

Tawiah, Johnson, Vaciulis and Guled were all sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison after pleading guilty at Wood Green Crown Court

Shokrolahi absconded while on bail and was not present at the hearing.

Tawiah, formerly of Derby before he was locked up in HMP Coldingley, Surrey, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering. He was jailed for 25 years.

Vaciulis, of Feltham, west London, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was jailed for 18 years

Johnson, of Roehampton, southwest London, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin, he was jailed for 16 years

Shokrolahi, formerly of Farlington Place, Roehampton, was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine. He was sentenced to 16 year jail in his absence after he absconded

Guled, of Camden, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was jailed for 11 years.

Rosemond Agyemang

Agyemang, of Peckham, admitted money laundering and was jailed for 12 months

Tawiah was busted when he was stopped by police driving a Bentley convertible with a personalised number plate in Enfield, north London nine years ago

Police then found the keys to a safe house in Enfield which they raided in March 2013

Officers from Scotland Yard's Projects Team recovered cocaine and crack cocaine, along with a Sterling sub-machinegun, ammunition and magazines.

He was jailed at the Old Bailey, but carried on his empire from the comfort of his cell

Jason Hulme, Operations Manager at the NCA, said: “This three-year investigation took apart an established criminal enterprise which had imported tonnes of cocaine to the UK, where its trade fuels addiction, violence and exploitation.

“Tawiah operated a network outside that did his dirty work for him, with all taking a slice of the profits.

“One of the men sentenced today remains wanted. We would appeal to anyone who thinks they may have information on the whereabouts of Ali Reza Shokrolahi to contact the NCA directly on 0370 496 7622 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”


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