£12 Million of Class A Drugs Seized at UK Border
Border Force officers made a massive drug bust on 10 June 2022, stopping a Belgian-registered white Renault Master van before it boarded a train from France to the UK. The driver claimed he was heading to Ashford for just one night. But hidden inside the van’s side panels were hefty stashes of heroin and cocaine.
Major Haul: 74 Kilos of Heroin and 128 Kilos of Cocaine
The National Crime Agency (NCA) swooped in after the Border Force discovery. They uncovered a staggering 74 kilos of heroin and 128 kilos of cocaine, with a UK street value topping £12 million. Just 30 minutes later, a second van was stopped. Driven by 61-year-old Abraham Schrier from the Netherlands, this van held no drugs but contained tools linked to the drug concealment in the first van.
Drill Bits and Denials: The Evidence That Put Schrier Away
Schrier denied involvement at first. However, police found his electric drill set and bolts matched those used to hide the drugs in the other van. After an eight-day trial at Canterbury Crown Court, he was found guilty and slammed with a 16-year jail sentence.
The first driver, 69-year-old Marius Verschueren from Belgium, was cleared of all charges.
Police Praise Teamwork and Vow to Fight Drug Gangs
Dover Branch Commander Mark Howes said: “The evidence showed Schrier was a key player in this importation. This seizure stopped class A drugs reaching street gangs who fuel violence and exploitation in our communities. Couriers like Schrier are vital links in organised crime networks. The NCA and Border Force will keep targeting these operations to protect the public.”
Martin Coates, Border Force Deputy Director, added: “Drugs are a plague fuelling street violence across the UK. This seizure highlights the close cooperation between Border Force and the NCA. We remain committed to stopping illegal drug smuggling and keeping communities safe.”
