Lorry Driver Jailed for Smuggling 10 Kilos of Cocaine at Dover
At Canterbury Crown Court on 30 October, Cristian-Dan Balasoiu, 46, was slammed with a 7-and-a-half-year prison sentence after trying to sneak 10 kilos of Class A cocaine into the UK.
Border Force Foil Drug Haul
The National Crime Agency (NCA) launched their investigation on 13 August when Border Force officers at Dover discovered a red bag marked ‘DIRK’ tucked inside Balasoiu’s lorry cab. Inside were 10 tightly wrapped blocks of cocaine.
Driver Claims Ignorance But Later Admits Guilt
Initially, Balasoiu told investigators he “absolutely” had no idea about the drugs. He claimed that if he had noticed the bag, he would have checked it and alerted police.
But after pleading guilty, he confessed in court that someone in Luxembourg offered him £1,000 to smuggle the drugs through UK border controls. He said financial struggles during the coronavirus lockdown pushed him into accepting the deal.
Officials Praise Border Force and NCA Efforts
Daren Nicholls, NCA Operations Manager, warned: “Importing illegal drugs is not a way to make quick money, it’s the route to a long prison sentence.” He added removing this haul keeps dangerous cocaine off UK streets, cutting down on violence and crime.
Minister for Immigration Compliance and Courts Chris Philip hailed the Border Force effort: “This was superb work by Border Force officers whose actions prevented a dangerous cargo of drugs from reaching the UK’s streets. Class A drugs like cocaine shatter communities, and we will continue to work with law enforcement partners like the NCA to ensure smugglers face justice.”
