Lorry Driver Jailed for Smuggling £650k Cocaine Stash in Truck Battery
A crafty lorry driver’s plan to sneak 16 kilos of cocaine into the UK has backfired big time. Romans Gzibovskis, 38, from Kastire, Latvia, was caught red-handed by Border Force officers at Dover’s Eastern Docks on 24 August.
Hidden Cocaine Found in HGV Battery Compartment
When officers scanned Gzibovskis’ HGV – loaded with empty plastic pallets – they spotted something fishy inside the external battery area. The usual large truck battery was swapped for smaller car batteries wired together. The clever trick? Smugglers stuffed a stash of class A drugs in the empty space between the batteries.
The haul? A whopping 16kg of cocaine, worth an estimated £650,000 on the streets.
Seven Years Inside for Drug Smuggler
Gzibovskis admitted his role in importing the drugs at Canterbury Crown Court on 27 September. On 9 December, he was handed a seven-year prison sentence.
“Gzibovskis clearly thought this concealment method would leave his lethal cargo undetected,” said Mark Howes, National Crime Agency branch commander. “Thankfully, it didn’t. This bust denies criminals millions and keeps dangerous drugs off our streets, where they fuel violence and exploit vulnerable people.”
Dave Smith, Regional Director at Border Force, added: “This sentencing reflects the dedication of Border Force and the NCA to securing the UK’s borders and prosecuting drug smugglers. The officers who uncovered this deadly stash can be proud of keeping our communities safe.”
