A man and a woman are on trial in Exeter on charges of being part of a cocaine and heroin trafficking operation linking Devon, London and Cyprus, according to media reports from the UK.
The prosecution said that Martin Payne, 27, from Plymouth and Helen Katsigianni, 67, from London, were part of a gang transporting heroin and cocaine from London to Plymouth in 2016 and 2017. Money, some £85,000, was paid into banks in Plymouth, transferred to London and from there to Cyprus. According to the prosecution the ring leader is George Pikounis, the son of Katsigianni, who lived in Cyprus. He is said to have admitted to his role in the ring.
But his mother said she had no idea her son was involved in drugs but believed she was simply collecting debts on his behalf for his struggling clothing business. The trial continues.
