Wokingham Drug Smuggler Jailed

A 49 year old Wokingham man, James McCartney, was sentenced on Friday at Canterbury Crown Court to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 37.11 kilos of cocaine into the UK through the Port of Dover. The drugs had an estimated street value of £2.3 million.

On 9 April 2008 UKBA Officers at the Eastern Docks intercepted McCartney driving a British registered lorry, carrying a load of mango and passion fruit. Officers conducted a search and found on the left side of the vehicle a locker, which had a black cable tie through the securing latch. Inside were two holders containing wrapped packages and a cardboard square which showed a list of the contents. The packages were tested and reacted positively to cocaine.

Maria Finelli, spokeswoman for HMRC at Dover said: "HM Revenue & Customs, along with the UK Border Agency, is working at the forefront of the fight to tackle drug smuggling at ports and airports throughout the UK. HMRC take a very serious view drug smuggling."

Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods should contact HMRC's hotline number on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

James McCartney, of Loddon Court Farm Caravan Site, Spencers Wood, Wokingham, near Reading was charged with the illegal importation of Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, contrary to the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.