CHIGWELL: Woman, 76, charged over £800,000 drugs seizure

3:18pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

A 76-year-old Chigwell woman is one of three people charged with smuggling drugs following the seizure of about 20kgs of cocaine with an estimated street value of £800,000.

Customs officers working at Dover's Eastern Docks stopped a Nissan Pathfinder car as it disembarked from a ferry on Good Friday morning (March 21).

A search of the vehicle revealed the drugs hidden in cans of fruit in shopping bags stowed between the seats.

Edmund Anderson, 47, and Paulette Chambers, 48, both from the West Midlands, and Ambrozine Heron, 76, of Ravenoak Way, Chigwell, were arrested and charged with smuggling drugs into the UK.

The three were remanded in custody until today (Thursday) when they appeared before Dover magistrates on Saturday.

HM Revenue and Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said: "Customs vigilance has prevented this cocaine from reaching its destination. We will continue to work to the Government's aim of reducing the availability of Class A drugs.

"Customs provide round-the-clock cover at Dover and the port should not be seen as a soft touch during public holidays."