Drugs smuggled in kid’s books
A MAN from Brent who attempted to smuggle around £200,000 worth of cocaine concealed inside children’s books through Heathrow Airport has been jailed.
Roland Graham Winn, of Walton Close, Dollis Hill, was sentenced to six years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday October 27.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to the importation of a class A drug at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on September 26.
The 60-year-old was stopped by Border Force officers at Terminal 2 on September 23 after arriving on a flight from Frankfurt where he had stayed following a trip to Brazil.
A search of his suitcase uncovered two hardback children’s books wrapped in plastic carrier bags with drug packages hidden inside the covers.
Mr Winn said he had got the books from Copacabana beach and they were for family members.
A field test gave a positive result for cocaine.
He was arrested on suspicion of the importation of a controlled drug and the case was passed to officers from the National Crime Agency SENTENCED: (NCA) for investigation.
Phil Douglas, director of Border Force Heathrow said: “Border Force officers are on the frontline, protecting the UK from smugglers who will often make elaborate attempts to conceal Class A drugs like this.
“The seizures made by our officers will put a significant dent in the profits of the criminals involved, and detections such as this are a real testament to their vigilance and skill.
“Working with law enforcement colleagues like the NCA we are determined to do all we can to put drug smugglers behind bars and seizures like this are the vital first step.”
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling can call our hotline on 0800 59 5000.