By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:37 PM on 5th January 2011

A hero fireman honoured for rescuing victims of one of the July 7 bombs has been jailed for 14 years for his role in a 100million cocaine ring.

Simon Ford, 41, won a London Fire Brigade Gold Award for risking his life to lead victims to safety in Tavistock Square following the terror attack.

But after struggling to cope with the stress of 7/7 he started taking cocaine and became a trusted member of one of Britain's biggest ever drug dealing rackets.

Disgraced: Hero firefighter Simon Ford (left) will serve 14 years behind bars for his role in the 100m cocaine ring. Cage fighter Aman Salhan, 28, right was also found in the flat when police raided as 5.5m of cocaine was being divided up

Disgraced: Hero firefighter Simon Ford (left) will serve 14 years behind bars for his role in the 100m cocaine ring. Cage fighter Aman Salhan, 28, right was also found in the flat when police raided as 5.5m of the drug was being divided up

Blown up: Ford received a London Fire Brigade Gold Award after risking his life in the aftermath of the bombing of the number 30 double-decker bus in Tavistock Square on 7/7

Blown up: Ford received a London Fire Brigade Gold Award after risking his life in the aftermath of the bombing of the number 30 double-decker bus in Tavistock Square on 7/7

Ford was given 14 years behind bars after police smashed a 100million criminal network, it can be revealed today. A total of 33 men were jailed for more than 200 years.

The Soho-based firefighter was caught red-handed at his flat in Guildford Street, Chertsey, as he divided more than 100kilograms of cocaine, worth around 5.5 million, for delivery to a ring of couriers waiting at service stations around the M25.

At the hub of the two-year enterprise was a shabby west London black cab garage Royal Oak Taxis, which belied the fabulous wealth of owner Eyad Iktilat, 47.

Israeli-born Iktilat was also a director of 'Euro Foreign Exchange' where 100million was laundered by teams of runners who dropped off sackloads of criminal cash.

Iktilat spent his profits on a Bentley and a Porsche with personalised number plates and was lavishing 2.75m on a luxury villa development in Spain.

He is now serving a 30-year jail sentence following a five-month trial - one of 16 linked trials spanning two years.

The cases can be made public for the first time today as the final member of the cartel, Anwar Laraba, was due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today.

Drugs raid: Cocaine found in Simon Ford's smart flat in Chertsey when police burst in during co-ordinated action under Operation Eaglewood

Drugs raid: Cocaine found in Simon Ford's smart flat in Chertsey when police burst in during co-ordinated action under Operation Eaglewood

Raid: Police arrest a man after using a mechanical digger to smash into the luxury home of Iraq-born Maythen Al Ansari

Raid: Police arrest a man after using a mechanical digger to smash into the luxury home of Iraq-born Maythen Al Ansari

Breaking in: Police broke down a wall with heavy machinery to get to the home of Al Ansari

Breaking in: Police broke down a wall with heavy machinery to get to the home of Al Ansari

In Operation Eaglewood - the Metropolitan Police force's biggest ever simultaneous swoop - 520 officers carried out dawn raids at 30 addresses across London and the Home Counties on February 13, 2008.

At the Hillingdon home of Maythen Al Ansari officers used a JCB digger to gain access to the property through a garden wall.

The undercover investigation was launched after police secretly followed two convicted drug traffickers to Iktalat's Euston home.

Investigations led police to the Surrey home of hero fireman Ford who had just returned from the costal town of Hythe, Kent, with a 110kg cocaine haul.

The drugs had been smuggled into Britain from Europe on a small inflatable boat and the waterproof canoe bags were still wet with sea water when police stormed his property.

His bravery medal was displayed on a table near where he was sorting through the 25kilo parcels. Detectives believe the drugs would have been distributed within the hour.

A second man, cage fighter Aman Salhan, 28, was also found in the flat. He was jailed for 17 years after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine.

Ford had earlier been seen making repeat visits to drop off bags containing up to 500,000 of cash at the taxi repair and rental company.

The fallen hero is expected to give evidence at the London inquest into the terror atrocities.

The taxi firm received up to 1million a day which was taken to EFX to be changed into 500 Euro notes.

Evidence: Police found a delivery schedule and three mobiles along with the drugs in Ford's home. The cocaine was expected to be taken to couriers at service stations around the M25

Jean-Claude Frigieri bought up to 450,000 Euros at a time, sometimes several times a day from Interchange, which had no idea about his criminal dealings.

Bachelor Ford led a champagne lifestyle and drove two Audi cars. When he was arrested he was off-sick from the brigade.

The fireman had compiled a handwritten delivery list and kept three mobile phones on which he received repeated panic calls from cohorts desperate to know his whereabouts.

Drug paraphernalia littered his plush flat along with a line of coke which had been freshly prepared for snorting.

Assets including land, property and bank accounts linked to the network have been traced to Spain, Israel, India, UAE, Dubai and north Africa.

Remembered: Firefighters hold a one minute silence in Tavistock Square on July 7 last year for those killed in the bomb blast. Jailed Ford was praised for his actions on the day of the disaster

Remembered: Firefighters hold a one minute silence in Tavistock Square on July 7 last year for those killed in the bomb blast. Jailed Ford was praised for his actions on the day of the disaster

Wanted: Carlos Tabares (left) and Nicholas John 'Peter' Tayler who are still being sough by detectives for their part in the cocaine ring

Wanted: Carlos Tabares (left) and Nicholas John 'Peter' Tayler who are still being sough by detectives for their part in the cocaine ring

The gang also had links to South America. Police believed large quantities of the cocaine was being turned into deadly crack.

Detective Superintendent Steven Richardson said: 'Operation Eaglewood targeted the ringleaders of a criminal network, as well as the people working for them. They had been supplying drugs around the country, earning millions of pounds.

'The sentencing of 33 criminals to more than 200 years in prison represents a huge blow to the illegal drugs industry in the UK.

'These criminals had been living the lives of wealthy businessmen through their criminal activity.

'The lives they are leading now could not be more different. The link between drugs and violence has been well made and can ultimately be traced to violence and harm in London's boroughs.

'Operation Eaglewood has prevented these individuals from contributing to that. In catching and convicting them we seized substantial quantities of drugs and more than 2.5m Euros and half a million pounds in cash.

Two men are still wanted by police over the 100million haul - Carlos Tabares, who may be in the UK or elsewhere on Europe is suspected of drug trafficking.

Nicholas John 'Peter' Tayler is being sought over 10million pounds of money laundering offences. He travels both within the UK and Europe, particularly Spain.

Jailed: The people behind the 100million drugs ring

Iktilat, of Levita House, Ossulston Street, Euston, north-west London denied five counts of money laundering, three conspiracies to supply cocaine, a conspiracy to supply cannabis, and possession of cocaine between September 2007 and February 2008. He was convicted and jailed for 30 years.

Iktilat's righthand man and Royal Oak Taxis co-owner Stuart Wright, 49, of Lyons Place, Paddington, was convicted of money laundering and jailed for 10 years.

Jean-Claude  Frigieri, of Buckingham Avenue, West Molesey, Surrey, was convicted of three counts of money laundering and jailed for 10 years.

Haul: Wrapped cocaine ready for delivery which had been brought into the UK on a small inflatable boat. it was seized from Simon Ford's Chertsey flat on February 13, 2008

Haul: Wrapped cocaine ready for delivery which had been brought into the UK on a small inflatable boat. it was seized from Simon Ford's Chertsey flat on February 13, 2008

Patrick Dowling, 49, of Salisbury Street, St John's Wood, north-west London, admitted money laundering and two cocaine supply conspiracies, and was jailed for 10 years.

Iktilat's nephew Aslam Ibrahim, 26, of Chalton Street, Euston, admitted money laundering and was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

David Scofield, 51, of Masefield Ave, Stanmore, Middlesex, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, two of money laundering and was jailed for eight years.

Businessman David Clohessey, 42, of Desborough Close, Paddington, west London, admitted three counts of money laundering and was jailed for five years.

Scrap metal merchant Eugene Maguire, 47, of Randolph Avenue, Paddington, admitted conspiracy to supply hundreds of kilos of cannabis and was jailed for four years and eight months.

Frigieri customer Mohammed Patel, 48, of Shirley Road, Leicester, was convicted of money laundering and was jailed for three and a half years.

Keith Taylor, 55, of St Michael's Avenue, Wembley, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply but was found guilty and handed a 52-week suspended sentence.

Richard Hill, 62, of Saltram Crescent, Paddington, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for three and a half years.

IT consultant James Ainscough, 35, of Park Crescent, Twickenham, admitted concealing criminal property and money laundering and got six months' jail suspended.

HGV driver Kevin Panrucker, 39, of Old Boat House, Blacksmith, Laleham, Surrey, admitted laundering 125,000euros and received a nine-month suspended jail sentence.

Anthony Dennis, 43, of The Elms, Bassett Lane, Ongar, Essex, was handed a 52 week suspended sentence.

Kofi Appiagyei, 28, of Devon Avenue, Twickenham, admitted possessing a firearm and laundering 1.586million euros.

Ford, of Regency House, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey, but originally from Torquay, Devon, admitted laundering several million pounds and conspiracy to supply cocaine and jailed for 14 years.

Cage fighter and web designer Aman Salhan, of Oxford Avenue, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex, helped Ford with the cocaine consignment. Salhan, 28, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and jailed for 17 years.

Dennis Carpenter, 56, of Cromwell Road, Beckenham, Kent, admitted money laundering 555,000 and was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Alan Davis, 44, of St Neots, Eaton Fort, Cambridgeshire, admitted laundering 639 Euros and was jailed for two years.

Joseph Mulvey, 25, of Dry Street, Basildon, Essex, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering and was jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Perry Silver, 52, of Mariskals, Basildon, admitted four counts of money laundering and received a 40-week suspended jail sentence.

Gavin Silver, 48, of Philmead Road South, Benfleet, Essex, admitted laundering 27,000 and was jailed for 15 months.

Ural Mehmet, 44, of Allens Road, Enfield, Middlesex, admitted three counts of money laundering and was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Russell Tate, 49, of Gallow Brook, Paxton Hill, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and laundering 693,000euros and was jailed for 16 years.

Jason Topsom, 46, of The Hearne, Great Amwell, Ware, Herts, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and possessing a firearm and was convicted and jailed for 27 years.

Tate's assistant Christopher Connor, 48, of Monarch Road, St Neots, admitted conspiracy to launder money and was jailed for two years and nine months.

Daniel Logan, 38, Mayland Quay, Chemsford, Essex, admitted laundering 300,000 Euros, and was jailed for 15 months.

Robert Gregory, 41, of Woodbine Cottage, Oak Avenue, Billericay, Essex, admitted supplying steroids and money laundering and was jailed for two years and nine months.

John Lopez, 36, of no fixed address, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and jailed for five years.

Don Crowley, 53, of Barton Way, St John's Wood, admitted money laundering and has been sentenced.

Al Ansari, of Vine Lane, Uxbridge, admitted money laundering and was jailed for three years.

Algerian Anwar Laraba, of Greville Place, Paddington, London, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and faces sentence.

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The UK (and indeed the rest of the world) should take the same action as the far eastern countries and execute all drug dealers.

If UK Prisons are overcrowded, why not rent Prison space from Russia?

Desperate people do desperate things .

A hero for doing his job well But a loser in the end, what a shame

I hope he gives back his award. Drug dealers aren't heroes in my book

I hope there is enough room in our overcrowded prisons for this lot!

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