SEVEN people have appeared in court accused of an involvement in an alleged drugs and money laundering operation.
The defendants, who appeared before judge Karen Walden-Smith at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday (April 25), denied an array of offences.
Perry Alfred Higley, of Moulsham Street, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supplying cocaine between 2011 and April 2013 and denied a charge of conspiracy to supplying criminal property, namely money.
The 51-year-old also denied two counts of possessing a flick knife, two counts of possessing a knuckleduster and one count of possessing four British Eley shotgun cartridges at South Hanningfield Village Hall on Feburary 11, 2013.
Co-defendants James Whiteman, 34, of The Vineyards, Silsoe, Bedford, and Stephen Waite, 43, of Braemar Walk, Pitsea, also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supplying cocaine.
Rachel Margaret Croudace, 27, of Heycroft Way, Chelmsford, 44-year-old Wayne Mixture, of Hall Lane, Sandon, Paul Hooper, 39, of Beehive Lane, Chelmsford and William Sorrell, 18, of Beaumont Walk, Chelmsford, also denied conspiring to supply criminally property, namely money.
Sorrell also pleaded not guilty to conspiring to supply cannabis.
The group is scheduled to face a four-week trial from the week starting Monday, November 24.
The court heard the Crown Prosecution Service had collected about 100 witnesses.
