JAILED: Walsall drug smuggler who tried to bring £800k of cocaine into UK in carrier bag
A man from Walsall who claimed he had been delivering furniture to Germany has been jailed after he was caught on his return to the UK with six kilos of cocaine and a CS gas canister in his van.
James Reginald Bettridge was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for six years after attempting to smuggle the cocaine, which had an estimated street value of over £817,000, and the CS gas canister into the country.
Border Force officers in Dover stopped Bettridge in his van, who when questioned said he had been delivering furniture to the Hamburg area of Germany.
But when officers searched the vehicle, they found five tape wrapped packages in a plastic bag and a lunch box containing white powder, under one of the passenger seats . The contents of the packages and the lunch box gave a positive reaction to a test for cocaine.
Also in the van was a box of car equipment and inside officers discovered a CS gas canister.
As a result Bettridge was arrested on suspicion of the importation of Class A drugs and an offensive weapon, after arriving on the ferry from Calais on August 19, 2014.
Bettridge pleaded guilty at a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced to six years imprisonment the same day.
Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe said: "In this case our officers have prevented a large amount of drugs and a dangerous weapon from reaching the streets. Working with law enforcement colleagues like the NCA we are determined to do all we can to prevent drug trafficking and put those responsible behind bars."
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.
