LISBON: The Devon and Cornwall coast has been a landing point for smugglers for centuries. Isolated coves, and, historically, willing local residents, meant contraband often found its way in the UK evading Customs. But it is not now brandy, tea and rum that are the focus of the gangs but millions of pounds worth of drugs and, latterly, people. Here we look back on some of the biggest modern-day busts in the region when, through good fortune or good detective work, customs got their men. It was thought the drugs came from Morocco and could have been bought for as little as £20,000.
The driver had been driving around Spain and Portugal for more than a week carrying out deliveries. His last stop was the Heinz depot in Alfaro, Spain, where he collected 22 pallets of Heinz mayonnaise. Some time between then and boarding a Brittany Ferries ship at Santander two days later, the drugs were added to the load.
The driver claimed he knew nothing of the cannabis, but Judge Francis Gilbert QC said the evidence against him was overwhelming. Judge Gilbert said: “You pleaded not guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence and the jury rightly convicted you. I am sure you were working for others, but no doubt for a healthy profit or cut.
“You brought into Plymouth a large amount of cannabis worth around £1 million in your lorry.”
The driver was jailed for six years. Andrew Pavlinic, assistant director Criminal Investigation for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, said at the time: “Drug smugglers don’t care about the harm their evil trade causes local communities; all these criminals care about is profit.
