The head of a drug supply network responsible for importing more than £31 million worth of cocaine into the UK has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment.

He was also sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently, for supplying one kilogram of cocaine in the Cockfosters area of London on 7 May 2013. He pleaded guilty to this charge at Kingston Crown Court in 2015.

Paul Monk, 56 (16.09.60), of no fixed abode, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 22 March after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a quantity of Class A drugs between 1 January 2014 and 15 April 2015.

Monk had been wanted by the Met’s Organised Crime Command since December 2013 after he travelled to Spain, which was a breach of the UK residency condition imposed as part of a nine-year prison sentence he received in 2007 for importing cannabis.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued for Monk by Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 15 May 2014.

On 14 April 2015, Spanish authorities carried out a search warrant at an address in Javea in the Alicante area and arrested Monk.

As a result of a search of the property, a large quantity of cash was found concealed in plant pots in the hallway and a large amount of paperwork was found relating to the distribution of drugs. Spanish officers also discovered a fake passport and an imitation firearm.

Met detectives established that Monk had imported 997 kilograms of cocaine with a value of £31 million.

Monk arrived in the UK on 7 May 2015 and was charged with supplying one kilogram of cocaine. He was then charged with the conspiracy to supply cocaine on 2 September 2016.

Detective Sergeant David Williams, the officer in the case, said: “Monk is a career criminal who showed a disregard for the laws of UK after he fled to Spain in 2013 to escape justice. He obtained false identity documents in order to evade authorities while he continued to run an international drug supply network from his home in Spain.

“After his arrest, expert analysis by Met detectives revealed the large scale of Monk’s drug trafficking network and of the huge sums of money he was receiving for the illegal importation of cocaine to the UK. This evidence has proved crucial in establishing the pivotal role Monk played in the drugs network.

“Monk has been sentenced to a lengthy period in custody and I would like to thank the Guardia Civil for their co-operation in the investigation that secured this conviction. We will continue to work together to ensure all the proceeds of Monks’ drug trafficking empire are confiscated.”