Deborah Mason, of Crayford Road, Tufnell Park, was sentenced along with seven other members of the gang to a total of 106 and a half years at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (July 18), for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months.
A group of couriers collected packages of imported cocaine and drove them all over London, as well as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff, between April and November 2023.
Deborah Mason, also known as ‘gangster granny’ (Image: Met Police) The drugs had an estimated wholesale value of between £23 million to £35 million and a street value of £80 million.
Dubbed as “Queen Bee”, the ringleader spent her profits on designer goods and was looking to go Turkey to have cosmetic surgery, while young mothers who were part of the gang took their young children to pick-ups.
Mason directed other members of the gang and was in contact with an upstream supplier called Bugsy.
She was was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
“You recruited members of your own family – as a mother you should have been setting an example for your children and not corrupting them.”
The judge noted that several of the women have young children but said their involvement in the drug network only “makes it easier for unscrupulous” dealers to seek to recruit mothers.
Earlier, prosecutor Charlotte Hole said: “Everyone involved had an expectation of significant financial advantage, at least £1,000 per trip, and it is one of the most significant parts of the motivation of the conspiracy.
“They all had an awareness of the scale of the operation.”
Mason, who was also dubbed as “gangster granny” by the Metropolitan Police, took part in 20 trips, delivering 356kg of cocaine, and also made trips to deliver and collect cash.
Ms Hole said: “She (Deborah Mason) recruited both her family members – her sister and her children – as well as partners and friends of her children, to a network of at least 10 individuals.”
She also organised those who drove for her, staying in phone contact from the early hours to make sure they were up, and checking in on them during the day.
She did not use pressure or coercion to woo her family into the gang, as they were “motivated by financial benefit”.
Messages also showed that Mason was living an extravagant lifestyle with her profits, having bought a Gucci collar and lead worth £400 for her cat as well as lots of luxury outdoor garden items. The group booked various holidays and purchased luxury goods with their earnings.
Roseanne Mason, 29, of Canonbury, north London, and Demi Bright, 30, of Ashford, Kent, were each sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.
“Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars.”
Met Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation, described it as “a sophisticated operation”.
He added: “The group were sucked into criminality, selfishly attracted by the financial benefits of the drug-dealing to fund lavish lifestyles.
“They were unaware we were coming for them and this sentencing should act as a deterrent to those who think about committing this type of crime.”
