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06/08/2004
Heathrow cocaine smuggling trio jailed
Three men have been jailed for a total of 53 years today following a cocaine seizure at Heathrow airport worth an estimated £750,000.
Kamaljit Bassi, 40, a British Airways baggage handler of 75 Park Lane, Hayes, Middlesex, Brian Emile, 49, a spiritualist of 20a Beechwood Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, and Junior Royes, 39, unemployed of 24 Compton Road, Kensal Rise, London, were convicted at Guildford Crown Court today of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the UK.
All had pleaded not guilty to their involvement in the smuggling attempts. Bassi was sentenced to 19 years; Emile and Royes to 17 years each.
Two other defendants, a man and a woman who were used to transport the drugs to the UK, were acquitted.
The court had heard that on February 16 2003, Customs officers, observed the two couriers arriving separately in Terminal 1 at Heathrow on flights from Brazil and Guyana.
Bassi, a British Airways baggage handler, was watched as he removed the cocaine from two pieces of baggage belonging to the two couriers. Customs officers maintained surveillance on the baggage handler, as he transported the drugs to near Hanger Lane, London, where he was due to hand the drugs over to Royes. The two men were arrested. A third person, Emile was later arrested at his home in Hayes, Middlesex.
After sentencing Judge Testar commended Customs officers for their determination in this investigation.
Brian Robertson, Customs Assistant Chief Investigation Officer at Heathrow, said: "This excellent result demonstrates the high level of international co-operation against drug trafficking, with valuable assistance given to us in this investigation by authorities in Brazil, Spain and Barbados. It is a very good example of the determination of HM Customs & Excise and our partner agencies to identify and prosecute airport workers who abuse their position to facilitate serious crime."
(gmcg)
Kamaljit Bassi, 40, a British Airways baggage handler of 75 Park Lane, Hayes, Middlesex, Brian Emile, 49, a spiritualist of 20a Beechwood Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, and Junior Royes, 39, unemployed of 24 Compton Road, Kensal Rise, London, were convicted at Guildford Crown Court today of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the UK.
All had pleaded not guilty to their involvement in the smuggling attempts. Bassi was sentenced to 19 years; Emile and Royes to 17 years each.
Two other defendants, a man and a woman who were used to transport the drugs to the UK, were acquitted.
The court had heard that on February 16 2003, Customs officers, observed the two couriers arriving separately in Terminal 1 at Heathrow on flights from Brazil and Guyana.
Bassi, a British Airways baggage handler, was watched as he removed the cocaine from two pieces of baggage belonging to the two couriers. Customs officers maintained surveillance on the baggage handler, as he transported the drugs to near Hanger Lane, London, where he was due to hand the drugs over to Royes. The two men were arrested. A third person, Emile was later arrested at his home in Hayes, Middlesex.
After sentencing Judge Testar commended Customs officers for their determination in this investigation.
Brian Robertson, Customs Assistant Chief Investigation Officer at Heathrow, said: "This excellent result demonstrates the high level of international co-operation against drug trafficking, with valuable assistance given to us in this investigation by authorities in Brazil, Spain and Barbados. It is a very good example of the determination of HM Customs & Excise and our partner agencies to identify and prosecute airport workers who abuse their position to facilitate serious crime."
(gmcg)
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