Drugs Duo Caught Out at Heathrow After Colombian Cops Swap Cocaine for Wood
Big Bust at the Border
Michael Williams, 37, and Jessica Waldron, 36, were nabbed by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers at Heathrow Airport in December 2019. The pair had just flown in from Bogota, Colombia, carrying what they thought was 22 kilos of cocaine hidden in their luggage.
Colombian Police Outsmart the Couriers
Unbeknown to Williams and Waldron, Colombian authorities working with the NCA had already searched their bags in Bogota. The drug blocks had been swapped for harmless blocks of wood before the duo boarded their plane.
Police Praise Sting Operation
Following their arrest and questioning, both confessed to attempting to import class A drugs. Today (10 October), they were each sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars.
Darren Barr, NCA Heathrow Operations Manager, said:
“Organised crime groups need couriers like Waldron and Williams for their business model to function. Their role is crucial in a chain that starts with the cartels that produce drugs in South America and ends with violent street gangs on UK towns and cities.
I hope the sentences handed out today make those who would consider getting involved think again. It simply isn’t worth it.”
