A Sittingbourne man involved in the supply of large quantities of cocaine and cannabis has been jailed for 10 years.
Bradley Hewett’s offending came to light following the cracking of the EncroChat mobile phone platform, a heavily-encrypted messaging service for criminals.
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Using the name ‘Stream Burrito’, Hewett was involved in the buying and selling of significant quantities of cocaine valued at between £34,000 and £40,000 per kilogram.
He was also involved in the supply of cannabis worth between £4,000 and £4,900 per kilogram.
The EncroChat service was decoded by international law enforcement agencies in the spring of 2020, with messages sent by ‘Stream Burrito’ between March and April passed to Kent Police for further investigation.
On Tuesday 24 May 2022 Hewett, 37, was arrested at his home in Bapchild and later charged with being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs.
He pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday 11 July 2023.
Key role
Investigating officer Detective Constable Aaron Chapman of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: ‘The length of the custodial sentence Bradley Hewett must now serve reflects the key role he played in the supply of illegal substances in Kent.
‘The name ‘Stream Burrito’ has become familiar to us due to messages Hewett exchanged with other drug suppliers who have either already been sentenced or are due to in the near future, not to mention the sheer volume of cocaine and cannabis that passed through his hands on a weekly basis.
‘Drugs ruin lives and I am satisfied there is now one fewer criminal in Kent benefitting financially from the misery of others.’