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Forensic evidence provided by SmartWater has resulted in the jailing of six men, including a 16-year-old youth, for two cash-in-transit robberies that took place in North East London in August 2009.

Francis Nkosi (24) was given a 4 year sentences for conspiracy to commit robbery on the 20th August 2009 and another 4 year sentence for a second robbery that took place the following day. His accomplices Marley Matumona (28), Nuaku Dimena (26), and Jahmal Banya (20) were also given two concurrent sentences of 3-4 years each for the raids on cash-in-transit couriers in Tottenham and Edmonton. Yannick Amini (25), whose involvement was limited to the Edmonton attack, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery, whilst a 16-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons received a 2 year detention and training order.

On Friday 21st August 2009, the 16-year-old youth robbed a cash-in-transit guard of an empty cash security box outside a branch of Nationwide Building Society in Edmonton. The youth left the scene in a white van, which police believe was driven by Amini, and was subsequently found abandoned 30 minutes later.

Approximately one hour later, police officers spotted the six defendants in Green Lane, Ilford acting suspiciously around a silver VW Golf. The group were seen placing a large item inside a multi-coloured laundry bag and storing it in the boot of their car before driving off. Police pursued the VW Golf and after a short car chase the six men abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot. Nkosi, Matumona and Dimena were detained and arrested in nearby streets, whilst the 16-year-old and Amini were arrested as they tried to make their getaway in a minicab.

The VW Golf was searched and the security box from the Edmonton robbery was found in the boot.  Nkosi, Matumona, Dimena, Amini and the 16-year-old were all taken into custody at Ilford police station and charged with the robbery.  Dye-stained cash found on Nkosi and Matumona was found to contain a SmartWater forensic signature. This along with a piece of dye-stained newspaper recovered from the VW Golf were sent away for analysis at SmartWater’s laboratories. SmartWater scientists positively identified the dye as coming from a separate cash box stolen during a cash-in-transit robbery in Tottenham the previous day. This additional evidence played a key role in the severity of the gang’s sentencing.

Further enquiries by officers identified Banya as the sixth suspect and he was subsequently arrested in January 2010 and charged in connection with both robberies.

DCI Ian Corner, Barking Flying Squad said: "These were dangerous individuals who posed a serious threat to the community and who could have been able to commit further offences had they not been apprehended."