Drugs kingpin who lived luxurious double life in Thailand jailed for 14 years

While on the run in Thailand, he reinvented himself as a professional Thai boxer and appeared widely in multiple high-profile tournaments.

He lived on the holiday island of Phuket in a luxurious condominium.

He was eventually brought down in a joint operation by Essex police, the UK's National Crime Agency and authorities in Thailand.

Other members of Ransome's Essex gang have already been prosecuted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Ransome, who lived in the Essex town of Wickford before fleeing abroad, sat at the top of a criminal network which organised the sale of drugs in bulk to his customer base, which included dealers linked to firearms.

The operation, the biggest series of connected investigations in the history of Essex police, was launched in 2021.

By 2023, the force's Serious and Organised Crime Unit had secured multiple convictions with combined sentences amounting to more than 85 years in jail.

Ransome supplied vast amounts of drugs to the gang’s principal distributor, David Glover.

Glover, 36, was jailed for 23 years for his role in the conspiracy.

As the net tightened around the gang, Ben Ransome fled the UK.

In a snapshot of the scale of the operation, one of Ransome’s couriers – who was tracked down and jailed for eight years during the investigation – moved more than 200kg of cocaine in less than two months.

In February 2022, Ransome was observed leaving his home in Wickford, carrying a heavy bag.

Covert teams followed him to Wickford Train Station, where he handed over the bag to one of his gang, 42-year-old Charlie Lancaster.

Lancaster’s car was followed and stopped by officers, who discovered nine kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of around £900,000.

Ransome’s fingerprints were recovered from a carrier bag containing one of the blocks of cocaine.

Lancaster was later jailed for six years.

Essex police said Ransome fled the UK on March 17, 2022, and initially travelled to the Spanish resort of Malaga, where he continued to coordinate the supply of drugs.

Later that same month, another of the gang, Kieran Grant, was seen leaving Ransome’s home.

He was stopped by officers on the M11 and when asked if he had anything in his vehicle, he replied “Drugs – a lot. Cocaine.”

A search uncovered 19kg of the Class A drug, with a wholesale value of £665,000 and street value of almost £2million.

Grant had transported large amounts of cocaine and ketamine across the country.

The investigation team estimated he was involved in the distribution or collection of £20million worth of drugs across a single month.

The 44-year-old from Southend was jailed for eight years.

Ransome continued to run his business remotely, while using his Essex home as a drug pick and distribution point.

In April 2022, surveillance of his Wickford home observed Russell Dendle, 34, departing in a blue Ford Focus – a vehicle previously linked to the organised crime group.

Dendle was stopped by officers as he crossed the Dartford River towards Kent.

In total, 6kg of cocaine was recovered from his vehicle.

After Ransome left the country, Dendle assisted him in the day-to-day operation of his criminal enterprise, directing couriers in the transportation of drugs and the collection of cash.

He admitted charges of conspiring to supply cocaine and ketamine, possessing criminal property and possession with intent to supply cocaine, and was jailed for a total of 12 years.

Since the start of the joint Essex police and National Crime Agency investigation, a total of 25 suspected gang members have been arrested.

More than £1million in cash has been recovered and almost 49kg of cocaine seized.

One kilo of heroin has also been seized, as well as 475g of ecstasy, 7kg of cannabis and 4kg of ketamine.

Officers have also recovered 20 firearms and more than 20 other offensive weapons.

The net finally closed on Ransome in September last year, the National Crime Agency and law enforcement agencies in Thailand tracking him down.

He was traced to the island of Phuket, where he had attempted to reinvent himself as a boxer under the ring name ‘Billy Roberts’.

Extradited to the UK in July this year and transferred to Essex Police custody, he later admitted charges of conspiring to supply cocaine and ketamine, possession of criminal property and supplying cocaine.

Essex police detective inspector Yoni Adler said: “Ransome tried to turn a substantial profit by running a criminal enterprise that spanned across the southeast of England.

“This vast supply in illegal substances doubtless fuelled extensive violence, threats and the use of weapons associated with his drug-dealing customer base.

“Distanced from this untold harm as a wholesale supplier, Ransome worked at arm’s length, trying to make a comfortable living out of sight of the misery of the drugs trade.

“He watched as we took down each of his associates, one by one.

“At an early stage, when he realised the net was closing and he likely faced arrest, he simply ran away, seeking to disappear and start a new life abroad.

“He’s remained on a ticking clock ever since – it was only a matter of time before he faced the music."

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