WIREDGOV

A man from Berkshire who packed his wife’s suitcase with heroin worth almost half a million pounds before she set off on a flight from Pakistan to the UK has been jailed.

The drugs were in packages that had been sewn inside eight dresses found by Border Force officers in Nazreen Anwar’s bag after she stepped off a flight from Islamabad at Heathrow on 28 June 2015.

The 28-year-old was arrested and in interviews with National Crime Agency investigators claimed to have been in Pakistan for a two week holiday. She said her husband had given her the dresses to bring back and she did not know the drugs were inside.

Her husband, taxi driver Waseem Anwar Choudry, 31, of Chichester Court in Slough, had been due to fly back a few days after his wife but didn’t board the plane. He was arrested by the NCA six weeks later attempting to re-enter the country at St Pancras International rail terminal, having travelled from Pakistan via Paris.

Choudry admitted packing his wife’s bags before her flight, and pleaded guilty to being involved in the importation of 3.5 kilos of class A drugs with a potential street value of £470,000. At Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 27 November he was jailed for 8 years.

Anwar was found not guilty of involvement in the importation following a trial at the same court.

Siobhan Micklethwaite, from the NCA’s Heathrow border investigation team, said:

“This was a cynical attempt to import a large amount of class A drugs by a man who seemed quite happy for his wife to take all the risks on his behalf.

“Heroin is a dangerous substance which fuels criminality, from the organised gangs and dealers involved in making and distributing it to the street addicts who turn to crime to pay for their habit.

“This is why the NCA and our law enforcement partners are determined to do all we can to stop traffickers and disrupt the criminal networks involved.”

Phil Douglas, Border Force Heathrow Director, said:

“Border Force officers are the front line in the fight against smuggling and play a crucial role in protecting the UK from illegal drugs and other contraband. This case shows however criminals try to conceal drugs, our officers are experts at finding them.

“Working with our colleagues in the NCA we are determined to do all we can to prevent drug smuggling and put those responsible behind bars.”