(posted 7797 days ago)South London Press
NewsMen in court after police drugs swoop at pub
Dec 14 2002
Croydon AdvertiserA number of men have appeared in court following Friday night's raid on a pub run by three former boxing brothers.
Specialist officers stormed McKenzie Bros, in Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, at 8.30pm and made 25 arrests for drugs, firearm and immigration offences.
After searching the premises, they uncovered crack cocaine, cannabis, a loaded 8mm handgun and a quantity of cash.
The arrested men were taken to Croydon police station, while others were transported to stations across south London.
Some of them appeared before Croydon magistrates on Monday morning.
The raid followed a covert police operation lasting several weeks into suspected drug dealing.
The pub was renowned as a haven for drug dealers and the scene of numerous fights and stabbings.
Winston, Clinton and Duke McKenzie took over the pub in 2000 and say they have made great strides to clean it up.
Friday's raid comes despite a zero-tolerance attitude at the pub, formerly known as the Prince of Wales.
Winston McKenzie said: "We have gone out of our way over the last few years to clean the situation up.
"I am dead against drugs because of the damage they do to society."
He was not at the pub at the time of the raid, but arrived 30 minutes later and helped police search the premises.
Conran Jermaine Smith, 19, of 32 Elmer Road, Thornton Heath, was charged with possession of an firearm and ammunition and was transferred to the Old Bailey where he will remain in custody until a hearing on December 16.
Hopeton Anthony Blair, 18, of St Paul's Road, Thornton Heath, Colin Archibald Gordon, 37, of Amot Road, East Dulwich, Everton Gary Brown, 26, of Westminster Avenue, Thornton Heath, and Jeffrey Griffiths, 37, of no known address, all appeared on charges of supplying crack cocaine.
Blair and Griffiths were remanded in custody to appear again on December 17, Gordon will remain in custody until his hearing on December 24.
Kevin Brookes, 50, of Brook Drive, Kennington, appeared on charges of intent to sell crack cocaine and cannabis and was remanded in custody until December 17.
Another man, Prine Valentine Irvine, 19, of Warwick Road, Croydon was deported on Saturday morning after he was found to be an illegal immigrant.