The drugs don't wok

The drugs don't wok

May 18 2004

South London Press

A GANG that supplied drugs from a Chinese takeaway has been caged for a total of 16 years.

Two men and a woman were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court yesterday for using the Royal China restaurant in Streatham High Road as a drugs den.

From the front counter the gang of three served up food.

But from the back door they supplied ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis and even offered a drugs delivery service to their customers.

Following a tip-off, police officers found more than £66,000 of drugs hidden among rice and noodles in the kitchen and in their warehouse outlet in a nearby flat owned by the lynchpin of the drugs gang, Ci Kwan.

Royal China owner Kwan, 43, of Lambeth Walk, Kennington, was caged for six years after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.

Accountant Rena Wong, 28, and Cheng Huang, 35, denied any part in the crime but were convicted at their trial in February.

Wong, of Lambeth Walk, Kennington, was caged for three years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.

Huang, of Streatham High Road, Streatham, was jailed for six years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply ecstasy and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Jailing the trio, judge Peter Grobel said: "You Kwan were right at the centre of this conspiracy. I accept there may have been some intimidation but that goes with the territory.

"You were happy to keep this poison in your flat and sell it in your Chinese takeaway.

"Huang, you minded the shop and stored drugs in your bedroom. You were not just an employee of Kwan's, you were a colleague and seriously involved.

"Wong, this is likely to put an end to your career as an accountant."

The gang will be brought back to court for a confiscation hearing on August 2 when they will be stripped of the thousands of pounds they made through selling drugs.

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