A lorry driver who attempted to smuggle £620,000 worth of cannabis from the Netherlands to Northern Ireland has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Sergei Bacaianov, 42, residing in Blanchardstown, Republic of Ireland, was intercepted while travelling by ferry from Holland to Killingholme port in Lincolnshire on May 4, 2023. He was carrying a load of fresh chicken in his trailer when Border Force officers, acting on behalf of the NCA, stopped and searched the vehicle.
During the search, officers discovered evidence of new welding and paintwork, suggesting that efforts had been made to conceal something. Further inspection revealed two hidden compartments beneath the floor of the trailer, each containing three sliding drawers filled with five metal trays. The trays contained a total of 31 kilos of cannabis, with an estimated street value of £620,000.
Bacaianov initially denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming that he was only collecting and delivering legitimate loads. However, DNA evidence linked him to the loading process, suggesting his direct involvement in concealing the drugs.
Bacaianov pleaded guilty to drugs importation at Grimsby Crown Court on September 25, admitting that he had some knowledge of the operation, though he claimed to be unaware of its full scale. He was sentenced at the same court today (October 2) to two-and-a-half years in prison and will be deported after serving his sentence.
NCA Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham commented on the case, saying: “Sergei Bacaianov was not only aware of the illegal load he was smuggling, but involved in loading the drugs into a sophisticated hide beneath the floor of his trailer to avoid detection at the border. We believe these drugs would have been destined for onward travel to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where they would have been sold on the streets, with the profits used to fund further serious and organised crime.
Commander Cunningham emphasized the NCA’s ongoing efforts to combat criminal activity involving freight transport. The NCA works closely with partners both in the UK and overseas to disrupt criminal hauliers who use their legitimate loads, often foodstuffs, to transport their illegal commodities into the UK,” he said.
The message to those who choose to get involved in this type of criminality is simple – the NCA and our partner enforcement agencies will use every available tactic to identify you, seize your vehicles, and bring you to justice.
This case highlights the collaboration between the NCA and other agencies in targeting criminal networks attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK under the guise of legitimate trade.
