Athlete, 26, faces drugs charges
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Leon Reid has been charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.
The sprinter, who lives in Bath, is among five men charged with drugs, possession of firearms and money-laundering offences.
The 26-year-old athlete has been charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, permitting premises to be used in the production of crack cocaine, concealing criminal property, and acquiring criminal property, reports The Guardian.
The sprinter, who was Ireland’s first Commonwealth Games track medal winner in 28 years, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last week.
In a statement, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit said the investigation was focused on “the large-scale supply of drugs, possession of firearms and ammunition, and money laundering”.
It said: “A further 18 people have been arrested in connection with the case and are currently released under investigation.”
The Organised Crime Unit continued: “Items including six encrypted phones, a Glock 19 handgun, a carbine conversion kit, a silencer, an extended magazine, ammunition, eight kilos of cocaine, four kilos of crystal MDMA, 3,000 ecstasy tablets, a hydraulic press, and £434,000 cash have been seized during the investigation.”
The men were arrested last year as part of Operation Venetic, “the UK law-enforcement response to the takedown of encrypted global communications service Encrochat”.
Reid competed for Great Britain when he won a 200m silver medal at the European Junior Championships
in 2013 but has since chosen to represent Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The sprinter is hoping to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
James Hele, Robert Dent and Reid have been released on court bail.
Fellow sprinter Romaine Hyman, 29, of no fixed abode, has been remanded in custody. All four men are due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on May 12.
A fifth man – Christopher Barbosa – failed to appear in court, with the police issuing a warrant for his arrest.