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© 2026 Lloyds PR Solicitors. All rights reserved. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Lloyds PR Solicitors is the trading name of the partnership of M Rupasinghe Limited, H Rupasinghe Limited, and P Palihawadana Limited.

Criminal Defence

Drugs

The 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act places the controlled substances.

Home›Practice Areas›Drugs

Overview

The 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act places the controlled substances in the following categories

  • Class A drugs: Cocaine, ecstasy and heroine
  • Class B drugs: Amphetamines, ketamin and Cannabis
  • Class C drugs: Steroids and khat

Under the 1971 Act the following behaviours are criminalised:

Possession

Possession of any of the above substances is an offence even if they are intended for personal use.  We are regularly instructed to represent those who are charged with being in possession of controlled substances.

Possession with Intent to Supply

It is an offence to possess any of the above controlled substances with the intent to supply to another.  Our expertise in this area ranges from acting on behalf of those who are charged with supplying on small quantities to large conspiracies. A conspiracy in this context is an agreement between more than one person to supply controlled substances.

We also act on behalf of those charged with cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis offences.

Our team

Prasad Palihawadana

Prasad Palihawadana

Founding Partner

Harsha Rupasinghe

Harsha Rupasinghe

Founding Partner

James O'Donnell

James O'Donnell

Solicitor

Mohsin Ariff

Mohsin Ariff

Cases we handled (55)

  • GK, Chelmsford Crown Court

    Secured an acquittal for a lorry driver charged with fraudulent importation of 74kg cocaine and 51kg heroin, valued at over £10 million. To prepare the defence case, extensive work was carried out on the telephone evidence and instruction of forensic expert witnesses.

    Ieva Giedraityte
  • Operation Bettergates, Southwark Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was involved in a large conspiracy to supply of 200kg of class A drugs between March and October 2020. The case involved encro chat telephone evidence.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Bewcastle, Lewes Crown Court

    Lloyds PR represent a defendant in a twelve hander conspiracy to convey prohibited items, including drugs and telephones, into HMP Lewes. Some of the defendants were prison officers. The Sussex Police investigation uncovered a conspiracy that ranged over a two year period whereby drugs, mobiles and money were exchanged between prisoners, prison staff and their families. We represented a defendant who was acquitted of all charges.

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Solicitor

Jay Nutkins

Jay Nutkins

Barrister

Natasha Patel

Natasha Patel

Solicitor

Ieva Giedraityte

Ieva Giedraityte

Solicitor

Nadeem Sheikh

Nadeem Sheikh

Consultant Solicitor

Oliver Mather

Oliver Mather

Solicitor

Subashini Nathan

Subashini Nathan

Solicitor

Sameera Karunarathne

Sameera Karunarathne

Paralegal

Ieva Giedraityte
  • Operation Boreas, Birmingham Crown Court

    Representing a client arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder a police officer. The defendant and 8 others now face conspiracy charges of supplying firearms with intent and Class A and B drugs.

    Harsha RupasingheSubashini Nathan
  • Operation Callanish, Snaresbrook Crown Court

    This case involved 21 defendants who have conspired to supply class A dugs in London and is currently ongoing which will involve a number of legal arguments in relation to the evidence.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Castle, Bristol Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was involved in county line drugs supply in Yeoville and surrounding areas in Somerset. It involved large scale police surveillance from London to Somerset.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Chopito, Southwark Crown Court

    Represented the lead defendant who allegedly orchestrated the importation of multiple kilograms of Cocaine along with Ammunition into the UK from South America. The criminality spanned over a year with co-conspirators being staff working at Heathrow Airport.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • Operation Demolish, Maidstone Crown Court

    Represented a defendant who was charged with conspiring to supply Class A drugs in a case that involved eighteen defendants.

    Harsha RupasingheMohsin Ariff
  • Operation Dowlas, Kingston Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was initially charged with 9 others for conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Bedfordshire. The defendant was acquitted after trial.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Gadbrim, Central Criminal Court

    Represented a defendant that was charged with street dealing in the Central London area.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • Operation Hackneyman, Manchester Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was charged with conspiracy to import approximately 30kg of cocaine, class A drugs, from Jamaica to the UK via various airports through packages hidden in suitcases.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Keswick, Harrow Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was charged with conspiracy to supply 15kg of class A drugs. It was argued to reduce to 5kg.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Khaja, Birmingham Crown Court

    The case involved the interception of UK based individuals linked to a Dutch organised crime group running a conspiracy to import Class A drugs into the UK between April 2014 and June 2015. The drugs were transported in a fleet of false Dutch registered ambulances on at least 45 occasions with an estimated value of drugs amounting to £1.6 billion. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/17/drug-smugglers-fake-ambulance-rammed-cocaine-heroin-court-hears

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • Operation Opaque & Rome, Central Criminal Court

    A £150 million UK wide conspiracy to supply cannabis investigated by SOCA and Dutch authorities and prosecuted by the CPS. This was a Very High Cost Case which indicates that it was a vast and complex prosecution.

    Harsha RupasingheIeva Giedraityte
  • Operation Orochi, Ipswich Crown Court

    We represented a 15-year-old youth accused of involvement in high-volume drug supply through a county line between Colchester and London as well as leading a county line in Chertsey.

    Subashini Nathan
  • Operation Orochi, Norwich Crown Court

    A complex class A drug trafficking conspiracy investigated jointly by the MET and Norfolk Constabulary since 2018. The primary allegations are that HN and others conspired to supply heroin, cocaine and other controlled substances contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

    James O'Donnell
  • Operation Pagoda, Harrow Crown Court

    Represented a defendant charged with conspiring to supply Class A drugs over a period of time in the Hertfordshire area that were estimated to be over £4 million. Read more on the Daily Mail.

    Harsha RupasingheMohsin Ariff
  • Operation Penhurst, Manchester Crown Court

    Represented a defendant who was charged with conspiring to import 35 kilograms of Class B drugs from Netherlands.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • Operation Pulex, Croydon Crown Court

    Represented a defendant charged with conspiring to import Class A and Class B drugs. The defendant was part of a sophisticated scheme in which corrupt baggage handlers assisted in the industrial-scale importation of drugs. Read more in the Daily Mail.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • Operation Pullman, Canterbury Crown Court

    Represented a defendant who was charged with conspiring to supply Class A drugs initially estimated to be valued at £8.1 million.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • Operation Rate (youth), Winchester Crown Court

    This case was called Operation Rate. This involved county line drugs supply from London to Hampshire. The case involved 16 defendants.

    Natasha Patel
  • Operation Rockwell

    A large 33 co-defendant prosecution at Preston Crown Court. We represented one of the lead defendants. The prosecution alleged that this was a well organised conspiracy where rental properties were identified for the cannabis farms and exploited, as well as various units used, and money laundered through various business. The alleged value of this conspiracy is between £2 – 3 million.

    Prasad PalihawadanaIeva Giedraityte
  • Operation Ruhr, Gloucester Crown Court

    Represented a defendant whose matter concerned a high profile undercover operation into the supply and distribution of high purity Class A drugs.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • Operation Spirant, St Albans Crown Court

    Multi-defendant case where the defendant was charged with Conspiracy to import class A drugs, 56 kilograms of cocaine valued, at £6,720,000.

    Ieva Giedraityte
  • Operation Venetic, Kingston Crown Court

    Encrochat evidence used to accuse a person of multiple counts of drug importation. Raised issues of duress and modern slavery.

    Robin Younghusband
  • Operation Weapon, Woolwich Crown Court

    This case was a county line drugs case. The drugs line operated between London and Kent supplying class A drugs. Represented the defendant who was 17 at the time of the offence and was then 18 during the time of the proceedings. The defendant was referred to the National Referal Mechanism Team and found to be a victim of exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act. The Crown offered no evidence in this case leading to a successful acquittal of the defendant.

    Natasha Patel
  • R v A Buddi, Birmingham Crown Court

    Represented a defendant, who was a Hungarian national and lorry driver, in a £8.5 million-pound importation of cigarettes case prosecuted by HMRC.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • R v AE at Harrow Crown Court

    Prasad Palihawadana
  • R -v- AI – Snaresbrook Crown Court [2026]

    Jay is instructed to represent this defendant accused of supplying class A drugs to others as part of a gang.

    Jay Nutkins
  • R v AL

    PWITS B proved to be simple possession

    Robin Younghusband
  • R v B, Blackfriars Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was charged with facilitating an offence of a sexual against a child. The Crown were not able to proceed with the prosecution and the defendant was acquitted.

    Prasad PalihawadanaNatasha Patel
  • R v CR & Others, Harrow Crown Court

    Unanimous acquittal on million-pound drug supply conspiracy.

    Oliver Mather
  • R v Cuni, Blackfriars Crown Court

    The Crown alleged that the defendant had brought in excess of 60kg high purity Class A drugs  to the UK on 34 occasions in a Bentley. Sentence was successfully appealed at the Court of Appeal.  Read more in the Telegraph.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • R v DJ, Southwark Crown Court

    Representing a defendant in a £12 million pharmaceutical fraud case investigated and prosecuted by the MHRA.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • R v FA, Inner London Crown Court

    Client charged with Class A Drug Supply. Client stopped in vehicle by attending officers along with significant amounts of cocaine and mobile phone handsets containing incriminating material. Client pleads guilty subject to a basis of plea. Judge finds in client’s favour and client is given a non-custodial sentence.

    Oliver Mather
  • R v F, Cardiff Crown Court

    Thomas Ashbey
  • R v F, Snaresbrook Crown Court

    Represented a defendant that was charged with grievous bodily harm and violence disorder which left the victim in a state of coma.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • R v H, Central Criminal Court

    Client and four others accused of two attempted murders, wounding with intent and possession of firearms with intent.

    Mohsin AriffIeva Giedraityte
  • R v H, Harrow Crown Court

    Represented a defendant that was charged with importing Class B drugs into the United Kingdom from Spain.

    Mohsin AriffThomas Ashbey
  • R v H, St Albans Crown Court

    Representing a defendant that faced multiple allegations of rape by different victims at various periods of time.

    Prasad PalihawadanaMohsin Ariff
  • R v IR, Norwich Crown Court

    This was a county lines case whereby an organized group from London were alleged to be supplying class A drugs in Norfolk. The case involved extensive surveillance and telephone evidence.

    Ieva Giedraityte
  • R v Kavenar, Canterbury Crown Court

    Represented a defendant charged with importing 2500kg of Class B drugs.

    Harsha Rupasinghe
  • R -v- KF – Winchester Crown Court [2024]

    Client accused of conspiring to import almost 900 Kg of Class A drugs into the UK by boat. Jay litigated this case.

    Jay Nutkins
  • R -v- KS – Luton Crown Court [2024]

    Jay was sole counsel for a man accused of repeated Class A drug dealing.

    Jay Nutkins
  • R v LC, Isleworth Crown Court

    Multi-handed Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs with issues involving modern slavery and county lines. Client convicted of “third strike” drug trafficking offence but Judge persuaded to pass a lower sentence than the “mandatory minimum” for such offenders in view of the evidence and mitigating factors which were presented to the court during trial.

    Oliver Mather
  • R v L, Exeter Crown Court

    Thomas Ashbey
  • R v M, Isleworth Crown Court

    Represented the defendant who was charged with multiple rapes of his ex-partner including strangulation. The case involved reviewing the defendant and complainants phones. The defendant was acquitted on re-trial after a hung jury in the first trial.

    Mohsin AriffNatasha Patel
  • R v MM, Woolwich Crown Court

    A case concerning the supply of Class A drugs where the Crown alleged that the defendant involved in what is known as a ‘County Line’ drug network. The allegation was that the drugs were being supplied in Maidstone, Kent to other surrounding counties. After meticulous preparation followed by a lengthy trial and retrial, the Crown offered no evidence against M on Counts 5, 6. 8, 9 and 10. Formal verdicts of not guilty were entered to formally recognise the defendant’s innocence.

    James O'Donnell
  • R v M, Southampton Crown Court

    Represented a defendant who was charged with conspiring to supply Class A drugs in the Southampton area whilst the organisers were based in London.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • R v N, Kingston Crown Court

    Importation of class A drugs.

    Prasad Palihawadana
  • R -v- NM – Snaresbrook Crown Court [2025]

    Jay was sole counsel in a case where his client was accused of being the leader of a gang in east London who deal class A drugs on a large scale and possess firearms. The defendant was acquitted of the firearms offences after trial. He was the only one who had a trial on this issue.

    Jay Nutkins
  • R v S, St Albans Crown Court

    Representing a defendant that was charged with grievous bodily harm (initially arrested for attempted murder) whereby street fighting occurred in Watford town centre and the victim was left with serious life changing injuries including a severe affect to their mental health.

    Prasad PalihawadanaMohsin Ariff
  • R v T, Central Criminal Court

    Represented a defendant in a Very High Costs Case which concerned a large-scale cannabis cultivation.

    Mohsin Ariff
  • R v T, Ipswich Crown Court

    Importation of class A drugs.

    Prasad Palihawadana
  • R -v- YT – Lewes Crown Court [2024]

    Jay was sole counsel for a Chinese National accused of importing and selling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis.

    Jay Nutkins