Liverpool Woman in BMW Stopped by Armed Police for Cocaine in Boot

Woman in BMW stopped by armed police because of what she had in her boot

Maria Rivas Santos's co-defendant purchased 15kg of cocaine from a Liverpool-based crime group

Maria Rivas Santos, 32 from Liverpool, was sentenced to four years, eight months in prison (Image: Surrey Police )

A Liverpool female drug courier who was stopped by armed police officers had 5kg of cocaine stashed in her boot. Maria Rivas Santos was a member of an organised crime group (OCG) which operated around a number of towns in Surrey.

Santos and three other members of the gang, Christopher and Craig Brewer and Michael White, were monitored as part of an ongoing probe by Surrey Police's serious organised crime unit into class A drugs supply. The probe began when officers tracked the movements of Christopher Brewer, 35, who was suspected of being involved in the supply of drugs.

After he was seen loading a laden black bin liner into his Audi in Redhill last May he was stopped and found to be in possession of 5kg of cocaine. A series of warrants were then executed at addresses linked to Brewer and his group across Redhill, Horley, Reigate, and Crawley along with stops of other vehicles thought to be involved.

One of these vehicles was a hired BMW being driven by Santos, 32, which was forcibly stopped by armed officers as it headed through London. A further 5kg of cocaine was found in a laundry bag in the boot.

Another stop resulted in the arrest of Michael White, 54, suspected of being a courier for the group. He was found with a carrier bag containing quarter of a kilo of cocaine stuffed in his underwear.

Christopher Brewer’s older brother, Craig, 38, was also arrested for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Wraps of cocaine were found on his person, and a further 29 grams of cocaine was found at his home where attempts had been made to flush some of the drugs down the toilet. Around £10,000 in cash was also found at the address.

Evidence also showed Christopher Brewer had previously purchased an additional 15kg of cocaine from a Liverpool-based crime group.

All four later pleaded guilty to charges against them and today, Wednesday, July 2, at Guildford Crown Court they were sentenced to:

Christopher Brewer, from Reigate, was sentenced to 11 years, six months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to acquire criminal property and perverting the course of justice

Craig Brewer,from Redhill, was sentenced to six years, five months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to acquire criminal property

Michael White, from Crawley, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to acquire criminal property

Maria Rivas Santos, 32 from Liverpool, was sentenced to four years, eight months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The Brewer brothers' dad Andrew, 65 and from Reigate, also pleaded to perverting the course of justice after falsely taking the blame for a speeding fine on Christopher's behalf. He was given a conditional discharge order for six months, having spent 408 days on electronic curfew.

Detective constable Matt Earl, from Surrey Police’s serious organised crime unit (SOCU), said: \"These individuals had key roles in a network distributing illegal drugs in the south-east and were living off the profits of their crimes.

\"Through the hard work and perseverance our SOCU team, supported by colleagues from various teams within Surrey Police as well as the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, were able to catch them in the act.

\"Now, not only are they in jail, but 10kg of cocaine is off our streets and out of our communities hitting organised criminals where it hurts the most – in their pockets.

\"The court also issued a serious crime prevention orders against Christopher Brewer, which will help prevent his ability to return to organised crime.\"

According to the source: Liverpool Echo.