Drug kingpin jailed after fleeing to Dubai and five years on the run

Drug kingpin Max Matthews has been jailed for 12 years and six months after evading capture for nearly five years. The 31-year-old, originally from London, fled the UK in July 2021 following his release on police bail, as authorities intensified efforts to dismantle his criminal network. His escape coincided with a major crackdown on organized crime in West Essex and London, which saw investigators close in on his operations. Matthews was located in Dubai and extradited back to the UK in February 2026. During a court appearance on 6 August, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin, and cannabis, as well as conspiring to commit money laundering. The charges stemmed from a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned over two years, from March to July 2020. According to Essex Police, Matthews occupied the highest position within the organization, overseeing the movement of illicit substances and financial gains across the region. The operation involved the trafficking of 74 kilograms of cocaine, 12.5 kilograms of heroin, and 50 kilograms of cannabis. Additionally, the group handled over £5 million in cash during the period of activity. Detectives identified the conspiracy through information gathered as part of Operation Venetic, a national initiative targeting the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform, which was heavily used by criminals for coordination. EncroChat, a service with approximately 60,000 global users, including around 10,000 in the UK, allowed criminals to communicate securely. Law enforcement agencies, both nationally and internationally, worked together to trace the identities of individuals using the platform. Through these efforts, seven members of Matthews' group were identified via their EncroChat aliases. These individuals had previously been sentenced to a cumulative term of more than 40 years in prison. Evidence collected during the investigation included detailed discussions on drug trafficking, along with photographic documentation and records tracking the flow of drugs and cash. Matthews operated under the EncroChat handles 'Kingspainard' and 'Encrogeezer,' maintaining ledgers that outlined the organization’s activities. He was directly responsible for acquiring large quantities of controlled substances, including Class A and Class B drugs. The group regularly moved hundreds of thousands of pounds in criminal funds weekly, with the investigation revealing instances of violent behavior linked to the operation. One such instance involved Matthews offering £20,000 to have an individual assaulted, highlighting the dangerous nature of the group’s activities. Despite his attempts to flee the country, Matthews could not avoid the mounting evidence against him. Upon his return to British custody, he admitted his involvement in the conspiracy. The conviction marks the culmination of a broader effort to dismantle the organization. Earlier this year, Matthews' second-in-command, Henry Allpress, received a 13-year sentence in 2023. Operating under the alias 'Comebackking,' Allpress played a pivotal role in managing the logistics of drug distribution and financial transactions. Working in collaboration with the National Crime Agency, officers traced Allpress to Spain and successfully brought him back to face charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Detective Inspector Frazer Low of the Serious and Organized Crime Unit emphasized the scale of the operation, noting that it represented an industrial-level enterprise engaged in the trafficking of significant amounts of narcotics while facilitating the movement of millions of pounds in illegal proceeds. The evidence retrieved through EncroChat provided an unprecedented level of detail into the workings of the group.