Quicksplained: Who is Heemal Vaid, Indian-origin man jailed in UK over drug trade worth £4 million?

An Indian-origin man behind multi-million-pound international cocaine shipments has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in the UK.

Heemal Vaid, 49, who went by the alias ‘Starcake,’ was responsible for importing and distributing cocaine and heroin worth over 4 million pounds.

After an investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency, Vaid pleaded guilty to all charges and received an 18-year jail term.

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In this report, we explore what is known about Heemal Vaid, the crimes he was involved in, and the investigation into the matter.

Who is Heemal Vaid?

The Indian-origin drug “kingpin” who orchestrated the import and distribution of cocaine and heroin has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Vaid, who is from London’s Cheam, used EncroChat - an encrypted messaging service favoured by criminals, to arrange drug deals, unaware that in 2020, international law enforcement would crack its encryption.

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Operating under the alias ‘Starkcake,’ Vaid was involved in a plot to smuggle 96 kg of cocaine from Brazil over a month in 2020, along with a separate plan to traffic up to 15 kg of drugs from the Netherlands each week, according to the UK’s National Crime Agency.

A crime “linchpin” who brokered multi-million-pound drugs deals has been jailed for 18 years.

Heemal Vaid, 49, of Cheam, masterminded the importation and sale of cocaine and heroin worth more than £4m.

Full story ➡️ https://t.co/wFgBNsIG8o pic.twitter.com/pqyZYJ5Hyx

— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) April 1, 2025

He was arrested at his home in April 2024 and later pleaded guilty to 12 charges related to drugs and proceeds of crime, as well as one count of conspiracy to blackmail for making threats against someone who owed him money.

Thousands of messages sent by Vaid under the pseudonym ‘Starkcake’ were uncovered and handed to the agency, which led to Operation Venetic - the UK’s response to the international takedown of EncroChat.

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What did the investigation uncover?

Investigators carefully examined the messages, eventually confirming that ‘Starkcake’ had arranged for 96 kg of cocaine, valued at £3.6 million, to be smuggled from Brazil over a month in 2020.

The messages further revealed that Vaid was involved in supplying 20 kg of heroin and one kg of cocaine within the UK.

Lead investigator Luke Seldon stated, “As investigators painstakingly examined each of Starkcake’s messages, it became clear that he was a linchpin in the criminal world. Starkcake had links to drugs suppliers overseas and those selling potentially fatal substances on UK streets.”

“His messages revealed he was also a professional money launderer, managing and hiding millions of pounds he and others made from crime.”

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Investigators pieced together his true identity through clues in his messages, verifying these with mobile data and financial records to confirm he was Heemal Vaid.

One message to Starkcake referenced cash being deposited into an account under the name ‘H Vaid.’ Investigators cross-checked this and found a matching transaction in Vaid’s bank records.

Notably, officers also identified a payment Vaid had made at a cafe in Dubai around the same time he mentioned being in the country.

Further analysis of mobile data showed Vaid’s movements aligned with messages about Starkcake’s whereabouts.

On one occasion, data indicated that Vaid was near a river close to his former home, just as he had told an associate he was going for a riverside walk, the agency said in a statement.

Seldon said, “Vaid attempted to fly under the radar by using an encrypted phone and getting others to do his bidding, but he underestimated the capability and tenacity of investigators.”