Story Highlight
– Bertie Payne sentenced to 15 years for money laundering.
– Led group distributing 24Kg cocaine and other drugs.
– Arrested with £50,000 cash in Bluewater car park.
– Investigation resulted in five additional arrests and convictions.
– Company, About Bezels Ltd, now facing compulsory strike off.
Full Story
A luxury watch trader from Kent has been sentenced to 15 years in prison following his conviction for money laundering and involvement in drug trafficking.
Bertie Payne, the convicted trader, was seen in a video released by Kent Police performing the song “Money Talks” by Stevie V, highlighting his connection to illicit financial gains with the lyrics: “Dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you.” This footage, filmed beside an opulent Rolex watch case, underscored the flaunting of his wealth.
Payne was found guilty of orchestrating a network that distributed substantial quantities of drugs, including 24 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of ketamine, and 5,000 ecstasy tablets between August 2024 and January 2025. He was apprehended in January last year while attempting to transfer £50,000 in cash to Halim Lashi in a Bluewater car park. Lashi also faced consequences, receiving a suspended two-year sentence.
During the investigation, which involved close surveillance by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, police discovered that both men were sporting luxury watches and had additional watches stored in their vehicles. The inquiry expanded after authorities examined Payne’s mobile phone, leading to multiple arrests and subsequent convictions for other gang members, with sentences ranging from two years and eight months to six years.
Detective Constable Martin Lacey, who led the investigation, remarked during the proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court that “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.”
Mr. Payne has been noted as the sole director of About Bezels Ltd, a Margate-based company established in March 2020, which received a compulsory Strike Off notice on March 3. According to limited financial records, the firm reported stock valued at £194,000 in March 2024, a decline from £236,000 the previous year, with a cash balance of nearly £29,000.
Trading from a flat in Canterbury, About Bezels was previously regarded as a reputable watch retailer, as discussed in a local blog dedicated to showcasing businesses in the area. Customers reportedly commended the retailer for its outstanding service and high-quality products, with one review acknowledging “the seamless buying experience and efficient communication provided by Bertie.”
