Polish martial artist found guilty of smuggling cocaine into England
Internationally renowned mixed martial arts (MMA) champion, Przemek Mysiala, alias “The Polish Bear,” has been found guilty of facilitating a large-scale cocaine smuggling operation into Norfolk, England. Facing a potentially significant prison sentence, Mysiala’s conviction marks a stark contrast to his decorated career, spanning six championship titles and prominent recognition within the fighting community and had fought on promotions such as KSW.
The arrest, culminating in a five-day trial at Norwich Crown Court, exposed Mysiala’s role as a courier for the drug network. Undercover Operation Oxon, initiated in June 2021, identified Mysiala’s involvement in delivering two kilograms of cocaine at a rendezvous near Norwich. Subsequently, he was apprehended on the A11 motorway with £72,000 in cash, corroborating his participation in the illicit activity.
Prosecutor Isobel Ascherson detailed the dismantling of the extensive drug network through Operation Oxon, resulting in 13 arrests and 7 previous convictions. Emphasizing the network’s significant impact, she described their operations across Norwich and Lowestoft, involving substantial quantities of cocaine and substantial financial gains.
Testimony from an anonymized covert officer, codenamed 6578, revealed their surveillance of a Lithuanian man connected to the network meeting Mysiala in Trowse. Shortly after this encounter, officers observed Mysiala returning to his car with a noticeably heavy backpack. Subsequently, he was apprehended at his Maidenhead residence with the illegal substances, while heading south with the confiscated cash.
The jury swiftly reached a verdict after three hours, finding Mysiala, a Polish national residing in the UK since 2005, guilty of both participating in the supply of Class A drugs and possessing criminal property. Sentencing is scheduled for February 8th.
