Organised criminal drug dealers jailed

Four drug dealers who ran a commercial cocaine supply network in the Watford and Three Rivers areas and beyond, have been jailed for more than 28 years.

Chas Wright

The four men were arrested in 2022 following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist organised crime team, Operation Relentless. The organised crime group ran the ‘Ace’ drug line for several years dealing cocaine. During the operation more than nine kilograms of cocaine were seized with a street value of around £900,000.   

The men appeared for sentencing at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 3 November, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

• Chas Wright, aged 28, of Mancroft Road, Caddington, was sentenced to ten years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine)
• Scott Hocking, aged 26, of St Albans Road, Watford, was sentenced to seven years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine)
• Mkamba Panda, aged 31, of no fixed address was sentenced to seven years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine)
• Paul Robinson, aged 62, of Crescent Road, London, was sentenced to four years and ten months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine).

Wright, who fled to Spain before returning to the UK several weeks later, was also handed a serious crime prevention order, which will commence upon his release.

Scott Hocking

Paul Robinson

Tyler McConnon, aged 28, of Southwold Road, Watford, who was part of the same group, was previously sentenced to seven years and six months.

Detective Inspector Grant Finnie, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Relentless team, said: “This organised crime group, led by Wright, ran a major cocaine supply network which blighted the Watford and Three Rivers areas for many years. Successfully dismantling such a significant network will have a big impact on drug use and associated crime within these parts of the county. This will also send a message to anyone involved in drug dealing, that we are watching, and they will be caught and face long jail terms.

“Organised crime groups use violence, supply drugs and commit a whole range of crimes that pose a real threat to the community. Operation Relentless is Hertfordshire Constabulary’s response to this on-going threat. As part of this work, we depend on information from members of the public to help us crack down on drug-related crime. Any information you can provide, no matter how small it may seem, could help us to identify and apprehend drug dealers.”

You can report information online about drug dealing, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form (opens in a new window).

Help and support for those with drug addiction:

If someone you know has a drug problem, they can get help by contacting Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or visiting Talk to Frank (opens in new window).