Jamaican Cocaine Smuggler Caught Swallowing 56 Drug Packs at Gatwick
Clayton Johnson, 52, tried to sneak a stash of cocaine into the UK – by swallowing 56 packages and hiding more in two pairs of specially altered shoes. The Bromley man aimed to sell the drugs to pay off a £6,000 debt caused by damaging a boat in Jamaica.
Eight Years Behind Bars After Cocaine Haul Discovery
Johnson landed at Gatwick Airport from Jamaica on 29 August. Border Force officers quickly zeroed in on his suspicious suitcase and uncovered cocaine concealed inside two pairs of shoes. A body scan then revealed the shocking truth: dozens of packets jammed inside his stomach.
Following the discovery, the case shifted to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Johnson confessed he’d swallowed 56 packages and stashed four more in his rectum. He said the haul was meant to pay back the £6,000 owed after wrecking a man’s boat in Jamaica over three years ago.
Repeat Offender Tried Smuggling Cocaine in 2012
This wasn’t Johnson’s first drug attempt. Back in 2012, he tried swallowing cocaine packages too but fell ill and was hospitalised, where authorities recovered the drugs.
Andy Noyes, NCA Branch Commander, said: “This was not the first time that Clayton Johnson had attempted to smuggle cocaine into our country, and his sentence reflects his repeated efforts to break the law for financial gain.
“Swallowing these powerful drugs was incredibly dangerous, and could have caused great harm to Johnson; or if his venture had succeeded, to members of the public.
“By removing this cocaine from the market, the NCA and Border Force have prevented it from ending up on UK streets, where class A drugs fuel violence and exploitation.
“We continue to work with partners to target and disrupt organised crime groups and protect the public.”
Court Sends Clear Warning on Drug Smuggling
Johnson faced Isleworth Crown Court on 5 November and was slammed with an eight years and three months sentence. His risky stunt has put him behind bars, while the drugs he tried to bring in will never hit the UK streets.
