Lifestyle

‘Barbie’ Love Island Star Exposed as Mastermind Behind Ruthless Drug Cartel

Published on June 16, 2025

A former Love Island star known as “Barbie” has been exposed as the brains behind a sprawling drugs cartel operating across the North of England. Magdalena Sadlo, who appeared on the Polish version of Love Island in 2021, has been jailed after police uncovered her key role in an international operation trafficking hundreds of kilos of cocaine.

Sadlo, dubbed “Barbie” by her cartel contacts, was finally brought down when detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit arrested her at the airport in February this year. She’d just flown first class from Dubai, wearing nearly £160,000 in jewellery including a rose gold Patek Philippe watch and a Rolex — all bought with dirty money.

During her time with the gang, Sadlo became much more than a glamorous face. She wasn’t just a courier she was managing logistics, coordinating shipments and keeping meticulous records. Police say she was responsible for transporting cocaine from the port of Harwich and running it across England in luxury BMWs, including a 33kg delivery to Manchester alone, reported Liverpool Echo.

Over several months, she is believed to have shifted around 300kg of cocaine in seven separate trips, with the drugs hidden in safe houses before being distributed by a network of drivers to dealers and users. But it didn’t stop at cocaine. Files recovered from her devices showed she was also involved in the movement and supply of ketamine and cannabis.

In court, it was revealed she ran the gang’s finances like a ruthless accountant, tracking profits, costs, stock levels and customer payments. She was described as “enthusiastically, relentlessly efficient”, even chastising senior members when they failed to meet her high standards.

One message she sent summed up her attitude: “The devil works hard, but Barbie works harder.” In another she boasted, “Having a good month, done 95895 in profit so far from orders.” Searches on her phone included “50kg cocaine June news UK” and “which countries have the death penalty for drugs” — leaving little doubt she knew exactly what she was getting into.

Sadlo’s defence argued she hadn’t played as major a role as suggested and had been dealing with personal struggles, including addiction. But the court wasn’t convinced. Judge Nicholas Barker described her as intelligent, calculating, and deeply involved. He told her: “I find you acted with real enthusiasm and sought to impress those at the top.”

Sadlo, 32, from Bracknell in Berkshire, admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine, and conspiracy to launder money. She was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Her conviction is part of a wider police crackdown called Operation Matrix, which has already seen 12 other people jailed for more than 100 years in total. Among them were Gary Gittins and Mark Knowles from Wigan, both jailed earlier this year for running safe houses. Police found cash, drugs, and mixing agents at their homes.

Detective Superintendent Zoe Russo said the bust had delivered a serious blow to the drug trade. She added: “Magdalena Sadlo’s arrest and conviction highlight the reach and complexity of this operation… and she will now face the consequences of her actions behind bars.”

Don’t Miss These: