Ballymena Lorry Driver Caught Smuggling £480k Cocaine Load
Bryan Anthony Hughes, 30, from Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has been slammed with a hefty jail sentence after being caught smuggling eight kilos of cocaine worth nearly half a million pounds into the UK.
Caught Red-Handed at French Border
Hughes’ troubles began on 16 October 2021 when Border Force officers stopped his lorry at the UK inbound border in Coquelles, France. He told authorities he’d just come from Tilburg in the Netherlands. But a thorough search of his cab uncovered a stash of cocaine hidden inside baggage and a locker.
Guilty Plea and Tough Sentence
- Hughes had picked up a genuine cargo of frozen potatoes in the Netherlands, headed for the North West of England.
- He initially refused to comment when interviewed.
- On 2 December 2021, he pleaded guilty to importing a Class A drug at Canterbury Crown Court.
- Today (4 February), he was sentenced to seven years and six months behind bars.
NCA Cracks Down on Drug Smugglers
“This quantity of cocaine would generate significant revenue on UK streets, so this seizure will cause a dent in the profits of the organised crime group it was destined for,” said Mark Howes, NCA Branch Commander. “Criminal groups use smugglers like Hughes to bring their drugs into the UK and our message to anyone tempted to try and make what they may consider easy money through smuggling is that you will be caught. We work closely with our partners, including Border Force, to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the UK and will continue to prosecute those involved.”
