Two men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday (7 June 2013) to a total of 20 years imprisonment after being found guilty of importing approximately 11.6 kilos of opium with an estimated street value of up to £232,000.
On 3 May 2012 Border Force officers stopped a British-registered Mercedes being driven by Vito Atari at the inward tourist controls at Dover's Eastern Docks. Atari said he had travelled from the UK to Lille with a friend who had stayed in France.
Officers then searched the car and found hidden in the vehicle's fuel tank seven silver foil wrapped litre plastic bottles containing a tar-like substance which tested positive to opium.
Further checks identified Atari's travelling companion - Mahmoud Naseri - to be arriving on the next ferry. Officers intercepted Naseri and questioned him. Both men were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the attempted importation.
After a trial at Canterbury Crown Court both men were found guilty by a jury on 16 November 2012 and were sentenced there today.
