Story Highlight
– Bertie Payne jailed for 15 years for drug crimes.
– Led group distributing 24Kg cocaine, 10Kg ketamine.
– Arrested while exchanging £50,000 cash in car park.
– Over £800,000 worth of drugs circulated in Kent.
– Luxury watches seized under Proceeds of Crime Act.
Full Story
A luxury watch dealer from Kent has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in drug distribution and money laundering activities.
Bertie Payne was convicted for orchestrating a network that supplied and distributed significant quantities of illicit drugs, including 24 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of ketamine, and 5,000 ecstasy tablets. These operations took place from August 2024 to January 2025. Surveillance conducted by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led to his arrest in a Bluewater car park, where he was found preparing to hand over £50,000 in cash to an accomplice, Halim Lashi, who received a suspended sentence of two years.
Footage released by Kent Police features Payne singing the 1989 song “Money Talks” by Stevie V, accompanied by the notable lyrics: “Dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you,” while sitting next to a large Rolex watch box. At the time of his arrest, both Payne and Lashi were adorned with luxury timepieces, and additional watches were discovered in their vehicles.
The investigation expanded after police analyzed Payne’s phone, which led to further raids and the apprehension of five more individuals associated with the ring. The sentences for these men ranged from two years and eight months to six years in prison.
Detective Constable Martin Lacey, speaking at Maidstone Crown Court on March 12, remarked, “Payne went to great lengths to conceal his criminality by not only running the money through what appeared to be a legitimate business, but he also recruited others to handle the drugs in an effort to distance himself from the criminality. This was a large-scale operation which saw over £800,000 of drugs being distributed and supplied throughout east Kent. Many vulnerable drug users were targeted, which not only affects their lives but that of their family, and blights local communities. Payne thought his operation was sophisticated and that he wouldn’t get found out but his sentencing shows that crime doesn’t pay and that if you are involved in criminality you will be caught and you will face the consequences.”
Payne is the sole director of About Bezels Ltd, a Margate-based business established in March 2020, which recently received a compulsory strike-off notice. Financial records indicate that the company’s stock value fell from £236,000 to £194,000 from the previous year to March 2024, with cash reserves reported at nearly £29,000.
This company operated out of a flat in Canterbury and was previously regarded as a reputable seller within the local watch retail community, praised for its excellent customer service and high-quality products. A local blog highlighted Payne’s dedication to providing a seamless buying experience.
Kent Police have confirmed that all watches in the possession of Payne’s criminal network have been confiscated and will be processed under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). This legislation allows law enforcement agencies to seize luxury items believed to be associated with criminal activities, preventing their sale during ongoing investigations.
Once a conviction is secured, courts can issue orders to confiscate assets linked to criminal gains, including watches. These items are generally assessed for value and sold at auction, with proceeds aiding in the recovery of financial losses incurred by crime. If a watch is later identified as stolen, it is returned to its rightful owner.
