Drug dealer caught at Gatwick after cannabis factory bust near Horley
Luke Ingram sentenced to over seven years behind bars for drugs operation
Luke Ingram, a 40-year-old from Reigate, has been sentenced to seven years and five months in prison after being caught attempting to flee the country following his involvement in running a large-scale drugs operation.
Officers executed a warrant at a site just outside Horley on 29th July 2025.
They discovered evidence of a sophisticated cannabis factory set up within storage containers.
Machinery for harvesting plants on a substantial scale was found, along with a large quantity of cannabis stored in a fridge.
Police witnessed a man, later identified as Ingram, fleeing the scene while talking on a phone.
His escape route led through brambly undergrowth, leaving tracks that were traced by police dog Jilly.
Police Pursuit Leads to Cocaine Discovery
The pursuit resulted in Jilly finding a dropped pair of keys which opened a container inside the warehouse.
Within was 2.2kg of cocaine and evidence of its preparation for distribution.
The site had been leased to Ingram under the pretence of storing supplies for a supposed landscaping business.
Upon learning that Ingram intended to leave the country, officers intercepted him at Gatwick Airport three days later on 1st August.
He was ready to board a flight to Nice but was arrested on concerns of drug supply and cannabis production.
Ingram possessed a new phone with messages expressing his desire to escape, including a need for 'more lives or a miracle.'
At the time of his arrest, he had cuts, bruises, and scratches consistent with evading capture through dense woodland.
On 16th June, Ingram was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court after pleading guilty to leading the drugs operation.
Investigating officer DC Ellie Blackford said, “Ingram said in a text to a friend that he needed ‘a miracle’ to be able to get out of the country last August.
Unfortunately for him we were fresh out of miracles, and he has now been grounded.
Drug dealing is far from a victimless crime, and we are committed to robustly tackling the production and supply of illegal drugs in Surrey and bringing those responsible before the courts.”