Operation Komondor – Importation and Supply of Class A Drugs

Operation Komondor was a large-scale investigation into the alleged importation and nationwide distribution of Class A drugs. The prosecution alleged involvement in a conspiracy connected to the importation of a significant quantity of cocaine into the UK. MMA Law represented the defendant in a lengthy and complex Crown Court trial. Following a five-week trial, the defendant was acquitted of importing Class A drugs, although convicted of supplying Class A drugs.

The Allegation

The prosecution alleged that the defendant played a role in a sophisticated drug trafficking operation operating between March 2020 and December 2021. The case centred on the alleged importation of approximately 1.2 tonnes of cocaine, said to be worth £40 million, into the Isle of Sheppey, with onward distribution across the UK.

The allegations were extremely serious. A conviction for importation carried the risk of a substantial custodial sentence, with significant sentencing consequences.

The Legal Challenges

This investigation was led by Kent Police and originated from intelligence obtained during Operation Venetic, following the compromise of the EncroChat encrypted communications platform.

The prosecution relied heavily on:

• Intercepted EncroChat communications
• Inference-based attribution of messages
• Alleged links between users and logistics
• Assumptions regarding knowledge and control

EncroChat-based importation cases are legally complex. They often involve layered conspiracies, indirect communication, and disputed levels of involvement.

MMA Law’s Defence Strategy

MMA Law’s defence focused on disentangling the defendant from the importation conspiracy, which carried the most serious legal and sentencing consequences.

Our defence strategy included:

• Challenging whether the evidence proved involvement in importation
• Testing the prosecution’s interpretation of encrypted messages
• Highlighting the absence of direct evidence linking the defendant to the importation itself
• Carefully distinguishing alleged supply activity from importation conduct

This strategic focus ensured the jury was able to properly assess what was, and was not, proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The Outcome

After a five-week trial:

• The defendant was acquitted of importing Class A drugs
• The defendant was convicted of supplying Class A drugs

The acquittal on the importation charge was a significant result, removing the most serious allegation and substantially altering the sentencing landscape.

In complex multi-defendant conspiracy cases, narrowing liability in this way can make a decisive difference to the final outcome.

The Importance Of This Case

This case demonstrates MMA Law’s ability to provide realistic, expert defence in the most serious drug conspiracy prosecutions. It highlights:

• Strategic focus on the most serious allegations
• Deep understanding of EncroChat evidence
• The importance of careful issue-narrowing in complex trials

Not every serious case ends in a complete acquittal. What matters is robust defence advocacy that protects the client from overreach and ensures convictions are limited strictly to what the prosecution can actually prove.

For defendants facing EncroChat-led importation or supply allegations, this case shows the value of experienced solicitors who understand how these investigations are built - and how they can be challenged.