Drug Smuggler Jailed After £4M Haul Found In Lorry

A Polish man living in Oldham has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty for his part in a plot to smuggle approximately 44 kilos of amphetamine sulphate and 119 kilos of cannabis into the UK.

The combined estimated street value of the drugs was £4,242,720.

Krystof Gabryszewski, 38, was linked to the discovery of the drugs in a Polish registered lorry at Dover's Eastern Docks on 4 November 2008 by forensic analysis of two mobile phones belonging to the driver of the vehicle, Gracjan Zientara.

UK Border Agency offices found the drugs in brown boxes concealed in a load of coffee makers en route from Poland to Northampton.

During his trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Gabryszewski was linked to the lorry driver by calls made from his mobile phone.

He had denied drug smuggling but was convicted and sentenced yesterday (7 July) following a trial.

The driver, Zientara, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in May 2009 for his part in the smuggling attempt.

Sentencing Gabryszewski to nine years for Amphetamine smuggling and six years for cannabis smuggling to run concurrently, the judge, Nigel van der Bijl, said:

"You have been found guilty of two serious offences.

"I will treat you as a minder. You didn't take the risk, that was taken by the driver, Gracjan Zientara, but clearly you watched over him."

Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations for the UK Border Agency, said:

"This was a long and complex investigation and UK Border Agency officers are to be congratulated on their efforts in bringing Gabryszewski to justice. This sentence will act as a deterrent to others involved in drug smuggling activities. Our priority must be to wipe out illegal drugs and their availability on the UK's streets.

"Anyone with information relating to smuggling is encouraged to contact the Customs Hotline on 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.