Lavish life of Love Island 'Barbie' unmasked as 'brains' behind £53m drug cartel
A Love Island star known as "Barbie" played a critical role in a £53m drugs cartel stretching across swathes of Northern England, a court has heard.
Magdalena Sadlo, famed for her stint on the Polish version of Love Island 2021, was the 'business brain' behind an elaborate drug-smuggling operation and led a lavish lifestyle before being handed a 14-year prison sentence.
Earlier this month, the court heard that the 30-year-old, from Ringwood in Bracknell, Berkshire, acted as a key link between British criminals and international cartel members. Using her management skills, Sadlo prepared criminal accounts for crime bosses based in the Middle East.
Her underworld nickname "Barbie" was aptly reflected in one of her brazen texts, which read: "The devil works hard, but Barbie works harder." Cartel members based in Dubai had plotted a conspiracy to ship staggering sums of cocaine into the UK, and Sadlo was brought on to help.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how the gang operated a sophisticated import and sales infrastructure. Detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit detained Sadlo when she landed in the UK in February of last year.
Living it large, the convicted felon arrived via a first class Emirates flight from Dubai, laden with lavish trinkets including a £130,000 rose gold Patek Phillipe watch, a £30,000 Rolex and Cartier jewellery - all funded through illicit means. She even carried a CV touting her business skills.
As a courier for the gang, Sadlo was responsible for collecting huge amounts of cocaine as it arrived at Harwich port. A police drug expert estimated she could have trafficked nearly 300kg of cocaine over seven trips, including a 33kg haul to Manchester.
For months, she ferried the drugs across England in BMWs during "whistle-stop" tours, initially storing the cocaine in safe houses before distributing it nationwide through a network of reliable drivers to supply addicts. As the gang's financial director, Sadlo meticulously recorded millions of pounds worth of drug deals in spreadsheets, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Tim Evans, prosecuting, told the court: "She not only manages the profits, costs and expenses, but also manages the stock levels, the profit margins involved...no organised crime group at this level could operate or function without Magdalena Sadlo, or an equivalent, performing this role."
In court, it was also revealed that Sadlso was "enthusiastically, relentlessly efficient in her accounting," even chastising top players for not meeting her exacting standards. Police seized mobiles and laptops containing spreadsheets that revealed the gang also dealt in ketamine and cannabis.
After Sadlo surrendered her PINs, officers discovered a trove of encrypted group chat messages where she and other senior criminals discussed large sums of money related to drug trafficking. On one phone, searches like "50kg cocaine June news UK" and "which countries have the death penalty for drugs" were found. Mr Evans stated: "She clearly knew the scale and seriousness of the trade she was engaging in."
Sadlo also handled encrypted communications with high-ranking cartel members and kept detailed spreadsheets tracking stock levels, customer payments, expenses, and profits. Recovered messages included one stating: "Having a good month, done 95895 in profit so far from orders."
Defence barrister Peter Corrigan said Sadlo disputed elements of the prosecution case. She had played a lesser criminal role than alleged, said Mr Corrigan, against the background of drug addiction. In a letter, Sadlo expressed remorse after falling on hard times. She was highly regarded by friends and family, the court heard.
Sadlo, from Ringwood in Bracknell, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine, as well as conspiracy to launder money. She received a 14-year prison sentence.
Judge Nicholas Barker determined that Sadlo, as a courier, played a "central" role in collecting and distributing drugs. "I conclude there was gain and reward and in some way considerable to you," Judge Barker said.
"You are an intelligent woman and well understand risk and reward," he told the defendant. "I find you acted with real enthusiasm and sought to impress those at the top."
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