| UK. Heroin smuggler jailed for fourteen years |
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| Thursday, 24 August 2006 | |
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HM Revenue & Customs news: An Irish National was jailed for 14 years at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday after being convicted of smuggling £750,000 of heroin into the UK through Harwich International Port. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Acting Head of Criminal Investigation John Phillips said: "Revenue & Customs officers have prevented a large amount of heroin from hitting the streets of the UK. The successful interception, investigation and prosecution of this case has culminated in a lengthy custodial sentence being imposed and sends a clear message to those intending to profit from smuggling Class A drugs." The court heard that on 30 July 2005, officers intercepted and searched the rented Nissan Almera car that Forestar was driving. He had arrived on the ferry from the Hook of Holland explaining that the purpose of his journey was to visit his estranged daughter in Holland. Officers removed two suitcases from the boot of the car and found a spare tyre hidden in the lining of the boot. The tyre was cut open to reveal a powder, which reacted positively to a field test for opiates. In total 11kgs of heroin were seized, of which 5.74 kgs were pure. After an 8-day trial, His Honour Judge Gratwick said: "This is a large amount of drugs, Heroin is a nasty addictive drug which brings misery, degradation and death on those enslaved by it. People bringing drugs into the country can expect substantial sentences to mark the seriousness of the offence" This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority, which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England & Wales. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 August 2006 ) |
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