£1.8m Heroin Smuggler Jailed

A lorry driver from Liverpool was jailed for nine years on Friday after pleading guilty to smuggling 40 kilos of heroin into the UK. The drugs, which were hidden on the engine block under his cab, had an estimated street value of £1.8 million.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Anthony Connolly, 43, of North Sudley Road, Liverpool was stopped by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers at the Inward Freight Controls at Dover Eastern Docks on 17 September 2008. Connolly was the sole occupant of a lorry carrying a consignment of beer from Holland. After questioning Connolly, UKBA officers asked him to tilt the cab forward and found the engine block covered in lead flashing. Beneath the lead were two holdalls containing numerous brown wrapped packages, the contents of which tested positive to heroin.

Malcolm Bragg, Investigation Assistant Director for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said: "HM Revenue & Customs investigators and UK Border Agency staff are at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK and to reduce the associated harm to our communities. In partnership with prosecutors from the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) we aim to protect society from this activity wherever we detect it. The sentence handed down by the court will act as a deterrent to those involved in drug trafficking and clearly shows that crime doesn't pay. Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods or other illegal activities should contact HMRC's 24 hour hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Connolly was arrested and the investigation passed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers for further investigation.

This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority that reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England and Wales.