Dutch Truckie Caught Hauling £5 Million in Cocaine at UK Border
Border Force Nab Driver at French Checkpoint
Elroy Patrick Spek, 50, from the Netherlands, was stopped on 17 June 2021 while driving an HGV from the Netherlands to the UK. Border Force officers searched his trailer at the Coquelles checkpoint in France and found three cardboard boxes secured on top of his legitimate load with cling film.
£5 Million Worth of Cocaine Found
Tests revealed the boxes contained cocaine with an estimated street value of £5 million. Spek denied attempting to smuggle the drug but was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on 1 March.
Fifteen Years Behind Bars
Today, 11 March, Spek was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his drug trafficking offence.
NCA Hits Back at Organised Crime
Mark Howes, branch commander for the National Crime Agency, slammed Spek’s role as a courier. He said:
“Spek acted as courier for these drugs and their loss will cause a blow to the organised crime group behind the shipment. This cocaine would have fuelled exploitation and violence in the UK. We will continue our work with partners to tackle class A drug trafficking.”
