Cruise passengers admit drug smuggling at Southampton
Two Spanish nationals have admitted charges of attempting to smuggle cocaine through the port of Southampton.
The men appeared in court charged with attempting to smuggle 30kgs of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.4 million, through the Port of Southampton.
In a joint operation between the UK Border Agency and Hampshire Constabulary, 28-year-old Tanasu De Jesus Quevedo-Ojeda and Oliver Vidal Hernandez, aged 27, were arrested as they disembarked the Black Watch cruise liner at 10am on Saturday (27 March).
They both pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates Court this morning and will next appear on 29 April at Southampton Crown Court.
Detective Chief Superintendent Shirley Dinnell, Head of CID at Hampshire Constabulary, said: "Hampshire Constabulary along with other law enforcement partners is determined to tackle the supply of controlled drugs in the UK.
“This operation jointly conducted with UKBA has recovered a significant amount Class A drugs and should act as a clear deterrent to those responsible for causing misery to so many people."
Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations for the UK Border Agency, said: “UK Border Agency officers work tirelessly to stop Class A drugs reaching our streets. We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.
“Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the Customs’ hotline on 0800 59 5000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The UK Border Agency brings together hundreds of specially trained officers equipped with immigration and customs powers into a single force securing the UK border.
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.
Issued by the UK Border Agency.
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, please call 0845 045 45 45.
