Six jailed for smuggling cocaine on cruise ship

11 January 2011
Six Bulgarian and Lithuanian nationals have been jailed for a total of 87 years for attempting to smuggle approximately 35kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.4 million, into the UK aboard a cruise ship.
A further 2 smugglers are due to be sentenced at the same court next week.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that UK Border Agency officers searched the cruise liner MSC Orchestra when it arrived in Dover on 6 May 2010 en route to Amsterdam from Brazil.Whilst searching the ship, they found in 4 of the cabins a 'bodysuit' which was designed to be worn under outer clothing and comprised of a trouser half and an upper body half. Individual packets of drugs had been stitched into the suits.Officers also found in one of the cabins a fifth 'spare' part body suit that contained no drugs.
Two Bulgarian men, 2 Bulgarian women, 3 Lithuanian men and 1 Lithuanian woman were arrested and later charged with being knowingly concerned in the evasion of the prohibition on importation of cocaine under Section. 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.The 4 Bulgarians admitted knowing each other, as did the 4 Lithuanians, but each group denied knowing the other.Seven had pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle the cocaine and the eighth Kostadin Malev was found guilty after trial at Canterbury Crown court on 3 November 2010.Malcolm Bragg, criminal and financial assistant director for the UK Border Agency, said:
'These drug smugglers thought they would go unnoticed by posing as cruise ship passengers. They were wrong. We've got our eye on every possible smuggling route into the UK. 'We know the lengths that organised criminals will go to and will stop at nothing to bring them to justice. 'The sentences handed down today send a clear message to people considering smuggling drugs that you will have your freedom taken away from you for several years. 'Drugs like cocaine devastate lives and communities. Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000.' The UK Border Agency will take action to deport the smugglers at the end of their jail terms.
As I already Mentioned in the Previous Blog UK Border Agency officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.
They also use an array of search techniques including detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners as well as visual searches to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.
Criminals are Criminal's whatever nationality they possess.These guys are intended to do anti-social work for Money .
IL-LEGAL IMMIGRANTS: Thousands of people are in UK , living il-legally however there visa's expired.
The Rules they are breaking affects other people to came UK for studying/Buisness and visitor's.
THE UK GOVT. MUST TAKEN SOME STEPS LIKE A AMMENDMENT IN IMMIGRATION RULE FOR EXTENSION OF STUDY VISA , AFTER THE COURSE IS COMPLETED.

THANKS TO UK BORDER AGENCY FOR PROVIDING VALUEABLE INFORMATION .
Regards
Gurbinder Sharma