Man convicted of drug offences – Buckinghamshire

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been convicted of drug offences in Buckinghamshire.

Today (27/7) Josh Vaux, aged 26, of Hillary Road, High Wycombe, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to supply a class A controlled drug, namely cocaine, following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court.

He was found not guilty of acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

An investigation was launched into Vaux following information that the force received as a result of Op Venetic, the UK law enforcement response to the takedown of encrypted Comms platform EncroChat.

It was established that Vaux was involved in facilitating the ordering and purchasing of cocaine that was then distributed to two others in the High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Princes Risborough area.

Between March 2020 and August 2020, it is estimated that Vaux received and distributed approximately 16 kilos of cocaine.

He regularly met with two others in Monks Risborough to distribute the commodity or cash.

Then, on 25 August 2020, three warrants were carried out at properties in Buckinghamshire.

Officers recovered just under 400g of cocaine in over 200 wraps along with scales and packaging materials. A VW Golf and Mercedes van were also seized.

The car was found to have a device inside designed to detect the radio frequency of police vehicles and the van was found to have a hidden compartment inside that could only be accessed by a remote control. This is believed to be how Vaux transported and concealed the drugs.

He was arrested that day and later charged on 5 March 2021.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Beck Hurley-Brydon, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “This is an excellent result following a proactive investigation into an extremely well organised criminal enterprise who utilised sophisticated technology to facilitate illicit activities.

“I hope this goes some way in showing the public we take offences of this nature very seriously, investigating with tenacity to bring offenders to justice and as such protect the wider community from the harm that drug dealing causes.”

Vaux has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 5 August.

CIR