Moment police arrest Playboy drug kingpin stepping off private jet

James Harding (34) plotted a murder and one of the largest importations of Class A drugs in Scotland Yard history using the encrypted EncroChat messaging platform.

Playboy Harding lived a lavish lifestyle in Dubai and took topless selfies grinning and posing in the gym and a bathroom in his four-bedroom villa at The Nest development in Al Barari where he drove a Lamborghini Urus and Bugatti Chiron.

Harding also chartered a private jet from the United Arab Emirates to London after co-defendant Jayes Kharouti's father died when airports were closed during the pandemic.

After being extradited from Switzerland to the UK, he was arrested by counter terrorist specialist firearms officer at a London airport in May 2022.

In the video (above) an officer remarks: “Mr Harding, welcome back.”

To which Harding replies: “Oh, thanks very much” before being forced to wear a bulletproof jacket and driven away in an armoured vehicle.

Harding and his “loyal right-hand man” Kharouti (39) tried to recruit a paid hitmen to put an unnamed rival courier “permanently out of business”, arming him with a gun and ammunition for the “full M”, a murder in late May and early June 2020.

Police say Harding, originally from Alton, Hampshire, used the handle “thetopsking” while discussing plans on EncroChat with Kharouti who was “besttops”.

Met Police detectives, who spent hundreds of hours reviewing and analysing these messages, found detailed plans for arranging firearms, getaway vehicles, times, dates and locations.

Harding’s sophisticated network made 50 importations into the UK, weighing of one tonne between April and June 2020, turning over an estimated €6m profit in just 10 weeks.

Earlier today (Tuesday June 24, 2025), Harding, who claimed to be a high-end watch sales executive, was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to murder following a seven-week trial.

Kharouti, 39, fled his home in Depot Road, Epsom but during searches police found a handset with the same number he gave to Harding. 

He was extradited from Turkey on June 25 last year and convicted of conspiracy to murder having previously admitted his role in supplying cocaine.

They were remanded into custody to be sentenced on Thursday.

Three other members of the organised crime group had previously admitted drugs offences.