Two men have been jailed for a total of 31 years after importing a consignment of bacon as a cover for 63 kilos of heroin with a street value of £3 million.
Philip Tasker, 43, and Darren Hunter, 41, were jailed for 18 and 13 years respectively at Canterbury Crown Court. They were sentenced following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers.
Tasker was stopped, returning from Belgium, by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers at Dover on 17 October 2008. Officers searched the van and discovered 126 packages, which tested positive for heroin. He was arrested and charged but denied all knowledge of the drugs, saying he was simply bringing back "dodgy" bacon. He was found guilty and jailed on 1 October 2009 following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.
Further investigations by HMRC officers led to the arrest of Hunter, who has two previous convictions for drug smuggling offences, and had masterminded Tasker's trip to Belgium to smuggle the heroin into the UK. He was arrested outside his Merseyside home on 13 January 2009. He pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on 23 March 2009 and was sentenced yesterday.
Malcolm Bragg, HMRC Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation, said:
"This attempt to disguise heroin as a load of bacon didn't fool detection officers and investigators, who once again showed their determination to bring criminals to justice. This dangerous Class A drug devastates lives and communities, as it is always linked to wider criminality. HMRC investigators and their UKBA colleagues are determined to stop drugs reaching the UK streets. Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods or other illegal activities should contact HMRC's 24 hour hotline on 0800 59 5000."
Confiscation proceedings are in place to secure the proceeds of this crime for the public purse.
