40-year-old Luke Ingram is currently serving seven years and five months in prison for his role in running a drugs factory out of storage containers.

On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, officers carried out a warrant at a site just outside Horley.

They found evidence of a sophisticated cannabis factory, including machinery to help harvest the plants on a substantial scale. Most of the plants had already been harvested, but a large quantity of cannabis was found in a fridge within the warehouse.

Officers saw a man on a phone fleeing the site as they arrived, pushing through brambles and bushes to make good his escape. Subsequent phone data showed Ingram’s phone travelling from the site at that time.

Intrepid police dog Jilly tracked the escapee’s scent through the undergrowth and encountered a dropped pair of keys. These opened the door to 2.2kg of cocaine in a container inside the warehouse, alongside evidence that it was being divided up for onward distribution.

The site was leased to Ingram, supposedly to house supplies for a legitimate landscaping business. He was nowhere to be found, and officers soon learned he was intent on leaving the country as soon as possible.

Three days later, officers intercepted Ingram just after sunrise at Gatwick Airport in line to board a 5.45am flight to Nice. He was arrested for being concerned in the supply Class A and B drugs and being concerned in production of cannabis. Rather than checking into his seat on a plane, he was instead booked into a police custody cell.

Ingram was in possession of a new phone and a new number, which included messages where he talked about going away and needing more lives or a miracle. He was also sporting cuts, scratches, and bruises when detained, consistent with fleeing through woodland at speed.

Ingram (30/07/1985), of Reigate, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on Tuesday, 16 June, after pleading guilty to playing a leading role in a large-scale 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.”