Guilty plea for cocaine smuggling attempt

A Romanian man has pleaded guilty, at his first court appearance, to attempting to smuggle approximately 12 kilos of cocaine into the UK through Dover.

The drugs had an estimated street value of up to £480,000.

Canterbury Magistrates Court heard that Border Force officers at Dover's Eastern Docks stopped a Romanian-registered van on Sunday (4 August 2013).

After questioning the driver, Gheorghe Antonie, officers scanned and then searched the vehicle. They found the drugs hidden inside the load of fabric and magnetic door releases.

Antonie was arrested and charged with the importation of the class A drug. He pleaded guilty at Canterbury Magistrates Court on Tuesday 6 August and will be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court a later date.

Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe said: "Cocaine is a vile and destructive drug, which ruins the lives of users and the wider community.

"Border Force officers are on constant alert to keep illegal drugs and other banned substances out of the UK."