A mixed martial arts world champion known as ‘the Polish Bear’ has been jailed seven years after smuggling cocaine into the UK in laundry bags.
Przemyslaw Mysiala, 41 – who has held six championship belts – was stopped by police with £72,000 in cash in his car on December 8, 2021.
He had driven to Trowse, in Norwich, Norfolk and was met by a member of an organised crime group already under investigation.
The other man left Mysiala’s car and was stopped and detained minutes later in possession of two kilos of cocaine.
Mysiala left Norwich and was stopped in his Mercedes on the A11 with the £72,000 in cash.
Przemyslaw Mysiala, 41 (pictured right) – who has held six championship belts – was stopped by police with £72,000 in cash in his car on December 8, 2021
He had driven to Trowse, in Norwich, Norfolk and was met by a member of an organised crime group already under investigation
Mysiala left Norwich and was stopped in his Mercedes on the A11 with the £72,000 in cash
The gang, which Mysiala belonged to, had been involved in flooding the streets of Norwich and Lowestoft with huge amounts of cocaine
This was one of four trips he had made to the city – which was observed as part of a covert police operation.
The investigation, which began in June 2021, saw seven people sentenced to almost 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to their roles in the drugs conspiracy last year.
The gang, which Mysiala belonged to, had been involved in flooding the streets of Norwich and Lowestoft with huge amounts of cocaine.
The drugs were transported in laundry bags and led to police seizing 5kg of cocaine, 52kg of herbal cannabis and £310,000 in cash in Norfolk and Suffolk altogether.
A jury took just over three hours to find Mysiala, of Maidenhead, Berks, guilty of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and handed seven years jailtime.
He was also found guilty of possession of criminal property following a trial last month, sentenced to one year today to run concurrently.
Anthony Montgomery, defending, said the inevitable sentence would be the ‘kiss of death’ to his fighting career.
Recorder Ruth Brander said his role was ‘significant’ in that he was ‘trusted’ with two kilos of drugs and £72,000 worth of cash.
The drugs were transported in laundry bags and led to police seizing 5kg of cocaine, 52kg of herbal cannabis and £310,000 in cash in Norfolk and Suffolk altogether
Anthony Montgomery, defending, said the inevitable sentence would be the ‘kiss of death’ to his fighting career
He was also found guilty of possession of criminal property following a trial last month, sentenced to one year today to run concurrently
She said: ‘That quantity of drugs and money demonstrates that you were a highly trusted part of the operation’.
Recorder Brander said he had thought it was a ‘quick way of making some money for your family’ but ‘in the knowledge you were involved in the supply of drugs’.
She acknowledged he was ‘extremely hard-working and dedicated to martial arts’ and that the sentence would effectively mean the end of his career.
Mysiala was the last remaining member of the gang to be sentenced.
Det Sgt Eddie Hammond said: ‘Members of the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious and Organised Crime Unit worked tirelessly over a long period of time during this complex investigation.
‘The convictions achieved during this investigation mark the conclusion of a protracted but successful investigation into this network.
‘Organised Crime Groups like this make serious money out of commercial drug supply which largely involves exploiting vulnerable people including drug users for financial gain.
‘This causes misery to all involved including the families of those who are addicted to drugs and the communities around them.’
