Four charged over £4million cocaine haul
FOUR people have been arrested after one of the largest hauls of cocaine ever found inside passenger luggage at Gatwick Airport was seized by UK Border Agency officers.
Approximately 86 kilos of the Class A drug, which had an estimated street value of £4million, was discovered packed inside a number of suitcases at the airport’s South Terminal on Friday (February 10).
Four Spanish nationals who had arrived on a flight from the Dominican Republic were arrested and then charged with attempting to import a Class A substance.
They appeared before Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (February 11) and have been remanded in custody. They are due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court for a bail hearing on Friday (February 17).
The UK Border Agency has now referred the matter to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). The two agencies are working closely together.
Ingrid Smith, assistant director for the UK Border Agency at Gatwick Airport, said: “This was a significant seizure – one of the biggest we’ve had at Gatwick ever.
“As this detection shows, our officers are on constant alert to keep class A drugs and other banned substances out of the UK.
“We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.”
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling can call the smuggling hotline on 0800 59 5000.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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