Four men jailed over organised drug supply in Sussex

Four men who operated as “professional drug dealers” have been sentenced to a total of more than 48 years in prison.

Mitch Mellor, 44, Ioannis Melitsis, 48, Steven Morley, 46, and Hafiz Irfan, 44, admitted their roles in large scale supply.

They showed no concern for the impact supplying class A and B drugs had on communities in Sussex, a judge said.

Their roles were initially exposed following a National Crime Agency operation targeting encrypted messages using a service called EncroChat.

EncroChat was a service provider – since dismantled – which enabled criminals to communicate securely with one another, for a subscription price.

Chief Superintendent Imran Asghar said: “This was a complex investigation led by our Serious Organised Crime Unit to tackle a sophisticated group supplying class A and B drugs in our communities.”

At Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 17 March, all four men were sentenced after earlier admitting multiple charges. They were jailed for their respective roles.

The court was told how Steven Morley, of Lewes Road, East Grinstead, was originally arrested in connection with a separate matter in 2021. Cash worth more than £180,000 was seized.

He was further arrested in 2024 in connection with being concerned in the supply of drugs through EncroChat, where he operated a username “incrediblehorse”.

Morley admitted eleven charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, being concerned in the production of ketamine, cannabis and amphetamines, being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition of importation of cannabis, possession of a firearm without a valid certificate, and abstraction of electricity. He was jailed for 14 years.

Then in June 2025, Hafiz Irfan, of Milton Mount Avenue, Crawley, was arrested. £100,000 in cash was found stashed in his home address, a business address, and a safety deposit box in his name. He operated a username called “snowtart”.

Irfan admitted six charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, being concerned in the production of ketamine, and being concerned in the offer to supply cannabis and ketamine, as well as money laundering. He was jailed for nine years.

Mitch Mellor, of Firle Road, Lancing, was arrested in his vehicle in Brighton in June 2025, where 12.7 kilograms of cannabis were found and £10,000 in cash. He operated a username called “speedyballoon” and then “easternotter”.

Mellor was jailed for 13 and a half years for nine charges which included being concerned in the offer to supply MDMA, being concerned in the production of ketamine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis, ketamine and amphetamine, and money laundering.

Finally Ioannis Melitsis, of Hove Park Villas, was operating a username “metalica” and was arrested at Heathrow airport after returning from Miami in June 2025.

He admitted 11 charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, being concerned in the production of ketamine and amphetamine, and being concerned in the offer to supply 2CB, methamphetamine, ketamine, spice and diazepam. He was jailed for 12 years.

His Honour Judge Stephen Mooney said the four men were clearly operating as “professional drug dealers” using encrypted devices in an attempt to evade detection. The judge said the men showed no concern for the impact and harm that drugs cause.

The judge said: "The evidence shows not one overarching agreement to supply drugs but rather the existence of a loose affiliation of dedicated drug suppliers who would in various combinations enter into agreements to obtain, produce and supply drugs as and when an opportunity arose with one aim in mind; to make as much money as possible. Sometimes supplies were successfully made and sometimes offers made with the full intention of supply taking place did not ultimately lead to a concluded supply.

"To put it bluntly you were all, during the period of the indictment professional drug dealers motivated solely by profit and entirely unconcerned about the huge impact of drug abuse during an unparalleled period of social disruption. The fact that you invested in encrypted devices emphasises the sophistication of your operation."

Speaking after the case, Chief Superintendent Imran Asghar added: “These men worked together and separately to supply harmful class A and B drugs which have a harmful impact on our communities.

“Vulnerable children and adults are often exploited in the supply of drugs, which is why we work hard to disrupt criminal groups.

“Our Serious Organised Crime Unit conducted a meticulous investigation that was able to clearly link all four men to their respective roles in the production, offer to supply, and supply of drugs.

“Thanks to a thorough investigation, all four defendants entered guilty pleas, and I am pleased that they will all serve significant custodial sentences.”