Indian-origin drug kingpin 'Starkcake' jailed for 18 years in UK over £4 million cocaine and heroin trade

A 49-year-old Indian-origin drug trafficker has been imprisoned for 18 years after orchestrating the import and distribution of cocaine and heroin valued at over 4 million pounds. The National Crime Agency (NCA) identified Heemal Vaid, from Cheam, through encrypted messages on EncroChat, a secure communication platform used by criminals, which was compromised by international law enforcement in 2020.The NCA received thousands of messages sent by Vaid using the alias "Starkcake". These communications were analysed as part of Operation Venetic, Britain's response to the international EncroChat infiltration, as reported by news agency PTI.Analysis revealed that "Starkcake" coordinated the importation of 96 kg of cocaine, worth 3.6 million pounds, from Brazil during a month in 2020. Additionally, he arranged weekly shipments of up to 15 kg from the Netherlands. The messages also showed his involvement in distributing 20 kg of heroin and one kg of cocaine within Britain.Principal investigator Luke Seldon highlighted "Starkcake's" role in criminal operations, noting his connections to overseas suppliers and domestic distributors. The messages exposed his proficiency in money laundering, managing criminal proceeds worth millions.Investigators uncovered "Starkcake's" true identity through message analysis, combined with mobile phone location data and financial records. A payment to "H Vaid's" account matched Vaid's banking records, while his presence at a Dubai café aligned with Starkcake's reported location.Mobile phone data corroborated Vaid's movements with Starkcake's communication patterns, including his presence near a river when Starkcake mentioned a riverside walk. Vaid was apprehended at his residence in April 2024.Faced with substantial evidence, Vaid admitted to 12 charges related to drugs and proceeds of crime, plus conspiracy to blackmail for threatening a debtor.Seldon revealed that despite Vaid's attempts at anonymity through encrypted communications and delegation, investigative persistence prevailed. The NCA's success in removing such a significant criminal operator disrupts dangerous drug supply networks and reduces profit from harmful activities.