The hustle and bustle of Luton Airport was interrupted by a dramatic police operation as officers handcuffed a man arriving on a flight from Warsaw.
Blazej Holub, a 43-year-old Polish national living in Luton, had been under surveillance after being identified through encrypted messages on the controversial EncroChat network.
What started as routine monitoring quickly escalated into a high-profile arrest that brought a major cocaine smuggling ring to light.
Holub, who went by the nickname “Krissy” in the drug network, had been orchestrating shipments of cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Police finally caught up with him thanks to a trail of digital evidence and intelligence that traced his movements across Europe.
The Arrest Captured on Bodycam
Bodycam footage, recently shared as part of Channel 4’s 24 Hours In Police Custody, shows the tense moment officers approached Holub.
As he walked toward them in a blue shirt, an officer calmly instructed him to raise his arms.
“Hello. Pop your arms up for us. Good man,” the officer said.
Holub confirmed his identity, and the arrest was formalized: “I’m arresting you on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs,” the officer explained.
A hint of dry humor followed: “At least you get to beat the queues this way.”
Later, Holub would admit to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and importing cocaine, ultimately receiving a prison sentence of over 16 years.
Tracking the Criminal Network
Holub’s arrest was the result of a wider operation targeting a Luton-based gang involved in large-scale drug trafficking.
Detectives had been monitoring EncroChat messages and had already identified key members including Kamran Bashir, 37, Ibraz Iqbal, 26, and Krysztof Kozon, 42.
A driver working for Holub was caught with £250,000 worth of cocaine, which helped confirm “Krissy’s” identity.
Despite knowing some of his associates had already been arrested, Holub returned from Poland, showing he either underestimated the risk or felt pressured to continue operations.
Evidence Found After Arrest
Following Holub’s arrest, police seized a trove of evidence from his home and person: a Rolex watch, cash, bank cards, an iPad, multiple phones (including an encrypted device), designer handbags, and jewellery.
Searches revealed the gang had amassed £250,000 worth of drugs and £150,000 in cash.
Bashir was arrested at work, where police found 0.5kg of cocaine and two EncroChat devices, along with £130,000 in cash.
Iqbal was also caught the same day, with £20,000 recovered from a business used for cocaine deliveries.
Kozon, acting as driver and custodian, was arrested in July 2020 with five blocks of cocaine worth around £250,000, along with multiple mobile phones, including encrypted devices.
The Wider Investigation and Sentences
The investigation stemmed from Operation Costello, a massive UK and European law enforcement effort that exposed organised criminal networks exploiting EncroChat for drugs and firearms.
Law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency and regional police forces, collaborated across borders, culminating in thousands of arrests and hundreds of years of sentencing.
Bashir received more than 16 years in prison, Iqbal over 12 years, Kozon 11 years, and Holub 16 years.
Operation Costello also resulted in the seizure of 288kg of cannabis, 26kg of cocaine, 2.6kg of heroin, and 49 weapons, demonstrating the scale and seriousness of organised crime in the UK.
Shedding Light on Modern Policing
Detective Chief Superintendent Duncan Young praised the transparency of documenting operations for 24 Hours In Police Custody.
“It shows the skill, determination, and compassion our officers bring to every case,” he said.
He emphasized that tackling drugs is crucial, as they fuel violence, exploitation, and fear in communities.
By exposing how networks like Holub’s operate, the show provides a rare insight into modern law enforcement, highlighting both the danger posed by organised crime and the meticulous work required to dismantle it.
What’s Next
The Channel 4 episode 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Secret Network captures these moments in gripping detail, showing the early stages of Operation Costello and the high stakes involved in cracking international drug networks.
The episode airs tonight at 9pm and is also available to stream, offering viewers a front-row seat to one of the UK’s most ambitious policing operations.
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