Three Kent-based criminals have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms following the seizure of a 24kg crystal meth haul valued at £4.3 million, destined for Australia. The shipment, which originated in the UK, was intercepted thanks to cooperation between Australian border authorities and UK police forces.
The individuals involved in the drug trafficking operation are Kevin Filkins from Sevenoaks, Robert Hamilton from Orpington, and Yvonne Stewart, aged 55, from Croydon. All three were convicted of orchestrating a high-level drug export scheme and received substantial jail sentences.
Yvonne Stewart, who worked in cargo security, was captured on CCTV supervising the shipment in Croydon on June 25, 2021. Her role was critical in facilitating the smuggling operation.
The investigation was led by the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), a collaborative effort between the National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police, which began in January 2022. Authorities uncovered a sophisticated network involved in the smuggling of crystal meth.
Phone records showed frequent communication between Stewart, Hamilton, and Filkins as they coordinated the export of the drugs. Filkins went as far as labelling the packages as “two glass Buddhas” to disguise the methamphetamine shipments bound for New South Wales, Australia.
On May 31, 2024, at Croydon Crown Court, the trio received the following sentences: Kevin Filkins was sentenced to 12 years in prison, Yvonne Stewart received 12 years, and Robert Hamilton was given 13½ years.
Detective Superintendent Callum Hughes of the Australian Federal Police stated, “These convictions send a clear message—drug trafficking carries a huge risk and long jail time.” Richard Smith from the OCP also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in dismantling organised crime and protecting communities from illegal drugs.
Originally published by UKNIP.
