Maldon drugs network pair jailed for more than 10 years

Jailed - Abdul Hamid and Shannen Taylor helped run a drugs supply network in the Maldon District. (Credit: Essex Police)

A PAIR of drug dealers have been jailed for more than 10 years in total, for money laundering and running a cocaine supply network in Maldon.

Essex Police’s Economic Crime Unit uncovered the operation through months of financial investigations, linking messages, payments and accounts.

They found Abdul Hamid, of HMP Five Wells, was orchestrating a drugs network from inside prison.

He was helped by partner Shannen Taylor, of Beauchamps in Burnham, as they recruited others to deal cocaine across the Maldon District.

Taylor, 31, sold cocaine and laundered money through various accounts connected to Hamid, aged 39.

Following their convictions, Detective Sergeant Mike Monkton said: "Hamid recruited his partner to try and revive his criminal empire. We quickly put an end to this.

“He tried to hide the drug dealing and money laundering that he would be the ultimate beneficiary of.

“This sends a clear message to anyone involved in the harmful cycle of drug dealing. If you try to hide your ill-gotten gains, we will find them.”

Hamid was previously sentenced to 18 years in 2021, for conspiring to supply cocaine and concealing criminal property.

In 2022, he was further ordered to repay more than £775,000 officers showed he had gained through his criminality.

Despite this, he attempted to orchestrate his drugs network from inside prison.

Taylor was questioned in 2021 but denied any connection to the drug dealing.

However, text exchanges with drug users on Taylor's phone were shown lining up with payments into her bank account. She was charged alongside Hamid.

Before the trial at Inner London Crown Court, Hamid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Hamid was sentenced to six years in prison, running consecutively to his previous convictions.

Meanwhile, the jury found Taylor guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Taylor was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for the cocaine supply conspiracy. She also received concurrent sentences of 18 months for converting criminal property and seven months unauthorised communication within a prison.