19 Years Jail For Drug Smuggler

A 45 year old Polish national was jailed for 19 years at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday (1 August 2008) after being found guilty of smuggling 93 kilos of cocaine into the UK through the Port of Dover. The seized drugs had an estimated street value of four million pounds.

Malcolm Bragg Assistant Director for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Criminal Investigation said: "HM Revenue & Customs is at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK. Our commitment is to do everything we can to stop this deadly trade. The sentence handed down by the court today will act as a deterrent to those involved in drug trafficking and clearly shows that crime doesn't pay. Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call HMRC's 24 hour hotline 0800 59 5000."

The court heard that Jan Uzdowski was stopped by HM Revenue & Customs officers on the 26 January 2008 at the Inward Freight Controls at Dover's Eastern Docks driving a Polish registered vehicle. On examination of the trailer, anomalies were found with its construction. Concealed within the floor of the trailer were 48 packages, one of the packages was opened and revealed a white powder which tested positive to cocaine.

On sentencing the men His Honour Judge Timothy Nash said: "It is difficult to see how the jury could have come to any other verdict".