Eleanar Attard and Nicholas Panayiotou were part of a plot to smuggle huge amounts of cannabis into the UK
A gang, including two winners of Channel 4’s cooking show Come Dine With Me, have been convicted for taking part in a plot to import cannabis.
The plot involved plans to smuggle 58kg (130lb) of the drug into the UK from the US but was foiled after a theft at a London airport, the Met Police said.
Nicholas Panayiotou and Eleanar Attard appeared on a professionals version of the show in 2022 with their restaurant.
Members of the gang were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.
Panayiotou, 43, was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis while Attard, 45, was given an eight month prison sentenced after she was found guilty of theft of suitcases and passports. Her sentenced was suspended for one year.
The Met said they were involved in the plan with Constantinos Zavros, Luke Wileman and Koby Haik.
Police uncovered the plot when two women reported their suitcases and passports had been stolen after arriving in London on a flight from Los Angeles on 11 January 2023.
CCTV inquiries led detectives to two suspects, a man and woman, and a car registered to Attard.
Officers attended Attard’s home in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, two days later and arrested her and her husband Panayiotou.
Image source, Metropolitan Police
Constantinos Zavros’s involvement was uncovered via WhatsApp group messages
Evidence on Panayiotou’s phone pointed to a wider drug smuggling plan to steal the cannabis from two women recruited to import it by posing as customs officers.
Three videos taken at the couple’s Touch of Greek restaurant, in Chingford, east London, taken a day after the theft, showed large quantities of cannabis.
Three other people involved were identified in a WhatsApp group – Zavros, who was connected to the drugs suppliers in the US and Haik and Wileman, who advised the gang on how to sell the drugs, the force said.
Those also convicted are:
- Constantinos Zavros, 34, of Carlton Avenue, Southgate, was convicted of conspiracy to import cannabis, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to steal. He was sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison.
- Koby Haik, 31, of Ashfield Road, Southgate, was convicted of conspiracy to import cannabis, conspiracy to supply cannabis, conspiracy to steal and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
- Wileman, 32, of Faygate Lane, Horsham, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to steal. He is due to be sentenced on 9 May.
Image source, Metropolitan Police
Koby Haik was advising the gang on how to sell the drugs, the Met said
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Related Topics
Related Internet Links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
