Lorry Driver Jailed for Smuggling £1 Million Worth of Cocaine into UK
A lorry driver caught smuggling over £1 million of Class A drugs hidden in a beer load has been locked up for six years and nine months.
Border Force Snags Cocaine Smuggler at Dover
The Lithuanian driver was stopped by Border Force at the Port of Dover on August 21. He was travelling from Germany, delivering what appeared to be a stock of beer to an address in the UK.
Hidden Cocaine Found in Bunk Bed and Locker
A search of the vehicle revealed ten packages of cocaine. Three kilo-sized bundles were tucked beneath the bunk mattress, wrapped in socks, with another seven stashed in the overhead locker.
Driver Claimed He Thought the Packages Contained Tobacco
“He admitted to officers he hid the packages but believed them to be tobacco,” said a National Crime Agency spokesperson. “He claimed the bundles were handed to him near the Dutch/Belgian border.”
The 10kg haul is estimated to have a street value of around £1,010,000. The driver was charged with attempting to import Class A drugs and remanded until his sentencing on Friday.
