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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Duo Jailed After £19 Million Cocaine Seizure

Two men from the north west of England have been jailed for a total of 30 years and four months after attempting to smuggle 243 kilos of cocaine into the U.K. on an empty passenger coach.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated driver Christopher Bullows and his passenger Mark Tucker after the coach was stopped at Dover Docks in September 2020.

A search by Border Force uncovered the cocaine hidden in a specially constructed wastewater tank. The drugs would have been worth around £19.4 million if sold on the streets of the U.K.

Bullows, 50, of Lord Street, St Helens, told NCA investigators that he had taken the coach to Belgium so that the air conditioning system, which was under warranty there, could be repaired. He said that Tucker was a friend and had come along ‘for the jolly’.

Tucker, 54, of Longshaw Street, Blackburn, said he was a mechanic and had joined Bullows on the trip to check on the repairs. But further enquiries showed that the air conditioning had been mended in the U.K. just months before the trip.

Bullows and Tucker were subsequently charged with attempting to import class A drugs. Both initially denied the charge but Bullows changed his plea to guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on 22 April.

Tucker was convicted by a jury on May 11, following a five-day trial at the same court.

During a hearing on July 6, Tucker was jailed for 16 years and Bullows for 14 years and four months.

NCA Branch Commander Mark McCormack said: “This was a brazen attempt to smuggle a large amount of cocaine into the U.K. but it hasn’t ended well for Tucker and Bullows. Not only was their lethal cargo seized, they are now facing long spells in jail. 

“Drugs smuggling is behind violence and exploitation in our communities, with vulnerable people often paying the highest price. We will continue to work with partners like Border Force to break the supply chains behind this despicable trade, and dismantle the organized crime groups involved.”

Dave Smith, Director of Border Force South East, said: “This is a significant sentence that sends a strong message that we will use every effort of U.K. law enforcement to disrupt criminal networks and stop drugs entering the U.K. Working closely with NCA our investigations and intelligence worked to protect the U.K. borders from drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.”

The NCA’s investigation was aided by specialists from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), who helped obtain evidence about the coach’s travel patterns from its tachograph.

Marian Kitson, DVSA’s Director of Enforcement, said: “This is a brilliant example of interagency working. I’m incredibly proud of the role my colleagues have played in helping bring this case to a successful conclusion.

“Our usual work is to help protect people from unsafe vehicles and drivers. This work involved keeping people safe in a different way. By sharing our unique knowledge and skills on tachographs, we were able to assist the investigation and bring this drug smuggling to an end.

“This result builds on the good relationships we have with other agencies and can only benefit us all for future investigations.”

Read the announcement at the NCA

Duo Jailed After £19 Million Cocaine Seizure Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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