Cannabis Smuggler Jailed

A British man, resident in Spain, has been jailed today at Canterbury Crown Court, seven years after he fled from Customs officers as they searched the van in which he was smuggling cannabis through the Port of Dover.

42-year-old Philip Brown admitted attempting to import into the UK approximately 150 kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of £635,000.

HM Customs and Excise officers had stopped Brown at the freight controls in Dover on 26 July 2003. After questioning him they searched the van he was driving and found the cannabis concealed behind the wall panels.

Just prior to the drugs being found Brown fled the scene and despite a search by officers was not found.

On 11 August 2010 a man identified as Philip Brown was arrested on arrival at Liverpool airport by UK Border Agency officers. Brown denied being involved in the incident at Dover but DNA samples taken in 2003 from drinks bottles in the van and fingerprint evidence proved he was the same person.

Brown pleaded guilty to drug smuggling at Canterbury Crown Court on 11 October 2010 and was yesterday (15 November) sentenced to three years.

Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations for the UK Border Agency, said: "UK Border Agency officers remain vigilant at our ports and airports and are determined to reduce the harm drug smuggling causes society.

"This case shows that we are determined to bring drug smugglers to justice, regardless of how long has elapsed since they committed the offence.

"Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call our hotline 0800 59 5000."

UK Border Agency officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

They also use an array of search techniques including detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners as well as visual searches to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.