Woolwich woman jailed in £1.5 million cocaine smuggling plot
3:54pm Friday 1st February 2013 in News By Sarah Trotter
£1.5 million of cocaine was uncovered mixed up with food in these containers
A WOOLWICH woman who tried to smuggle £1.5 million of cocaine into the UK in food packets and bottles has been locked up.
The drugs were mixed up in foods from Ecuador in a “very sophisticated concealment” that was uncovered by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport in June last year.
Columbian national Martha Santiago, aged 36, of Tellson Avenue, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday to five years in prison.
Paula Sanchez, aged 32, of Coppetts Road, Muswell Hill, was jailed for 10 years. Both admitted conspiracy to import class A drugs at earlier hearings.
The disguised haul – totalling around eight kilos of pure cocaine - was found after officers carried out forensic checks on freight at the airport on June 27.
Assistant director of Border Force Peter Avery said: “This was a significant quantity of drugs and a very sophisticated concealment, but once again our Border Force officers were one step ahead.
“Border Force officers are on constant alert to prevent dangerous drugs like cocaine making it into the UK, and through close working with our law enforcement partners like the MPS (Met Police) and SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) we are determined to bring to justice those who would attempt to smuggle it.”
Anyone with information about suspected activity linked to drug smuggling should call 0800 59 5000.
Comments(6)
nearly right all the time
says...
6:08pm Sat 2 Feb 13
who foiled this.!
One would hope that these people are deported back to their country of origin and in that way no longer be a burden on the hard working UK tax-payer
rojo174
says...
7:26pm Sat 2 Feb 13
nearly right all the time
says...
10:42pm Sat 2 Feb 13
and we do not act like nazis or the BNP
Marty1979
says...
10:07am Sun 3 Feb 13
nearly right all the time wrote:So they try to bring in banned substances - which had they not been discovered would have made them over a million (would they have paid tax)
I would hope their human rights would be respected
and we do not act like nazis or the BNP
Fortunately they were found, are now in prison (at our expense). When they get out they will no doubt be housed & fed (at out expense)
Yes we respect their human rights
old nick
says...
3:49pm Mon 4 Feb 13
old nick says...
3:25pm Sat 2 Feb 13