Canarian Weekly
14-12-2012, 13:20
TWO Spanish brothers, who attempted to smuggle cocaine worth almost £300,000 through Heathrow Airport, have been jailed for a total of nine years.
Roberto and Jesus-Maria Moreno-Ramirez were arrested by Border Force officers at Terminal 1 on 19th September after flying in from theDominican Republic, viaFrankfurt.
Checks were carried out on their luggage and, when two suitcases were emptied out, they were found to be unusually heavy. The cases were X-rayed, revealing both had false bottoms.
Packages of white powder were found concealed within the hidden compartments, and tests carried out on the powder showed it to be cocaine.
Just under three kilos of the drug were seized and, if cut and sold onUKstreets, would have been worth around £300,000.
The brothers, aged 44 and 40 and originally from the La Rioja region of Spain, pleaded guilty to importing a class A drug and were each sentenced to 4½ years in prison by a judge at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 6th December.
Assistant Director Peter Avery, of Border Force, said: “This was a significant quantity of drugs with a potential to do a lot of damage, and the sentences handed down here reflect that.
“Drug trafficking is a serious offence, and this case should serve as a warning to others.
“Border Force officers are on constant alert to prevent dangerous drugs like cocaine making it to our streets.”
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug-smuggling should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/drug-smuggling-brothers-jailed/)
Roberto and Jesus-Maria Moreno-Ramirez were arrested by Border Force officers at Terminal 1 on 19th September after flying in from theDominican Republic, viaFrankfurt.
Checks were carried out on their luggage and, when two suitcases were emptied out, they were found to be unusually heavy. The cases were X-rayed, revealing both had false bottoms.
Packages of white powder were found concealed within the hidden compartments, and tests carried out on the powder showed it to be cocaine.
Just under three kilos of the drug were seized and, if cut and sold onUKstreets, would have been worth around £300,000.
The brothers, aged 44 and 40 and originally from the La Rioja region of Spain, pleaded guilty to importing a class A drug and were each sentenced to 4½ years in prison by a judge at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 6th December.
Assistant Director Peter Avery, of Border Force, said: “This was a significant quantity of drugs with a potential to do a lot of damage, and the sentences handed down here reflect that.
“Drug trafficking is a serious offence, and this case should serve as a warning to others.
“Border Force officers are on constant alert to prevent dangerous drugs like cocaine making it to our streets.”
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug-smuggling should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/drug-smuggling-brothers-jailed/)