FOUR MEN CHARGED AFTER CUSTOMS SEIZE 130 KILOS OF HEROIN

10 Jun 2004 05:45 PM

Four men appeared before Thames Magistrates Court this afternoon charged with the alleged importation of a Class A drug following the seizure of 10 million worth of heroin and 25,000 cash by Customs officers in North London yesterday.

Those charged were:

Errol Williams, British, 25, of 13b Peabody Buildings, Elephant & Castle, London.

Taner Konakli, Turkish, 34, of 25 Leighfield House, Manor House, London.

Faruk Koroglu, Turkish, 43, of 9 Broadway House, Jackman Street, London, E9.

Raymond Steer, British, 24, of All Hallows Caravan Park, Rochester, Kent.

All four men were remanded in custody, for the next seven days.

Notes for editors

1. HM Customs and Excise has the UK lead for reducing the availability of Class A drugs by detecting and deterring the smuggling of illegal drugs and other prohibited and restricted goods, and by disrupting/dismantling organised drug crime groups, and by the recovery of drug related criminal assets.

2. HM Customs and Excise law enforcement is intelligence-led, working with partners at home and abroad to tackle threats to the UK.

3. Customs has built a 21st century Customs Service to tackle 21st century crime. New tactics include stronger partnering with agencies at home and abroad, an intelligence-led approach, modern technology and flexible and mobile teams of officers who can be anywhere at any time.

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Marketing and Communications Division

Anyone with information about illegally imported drugs, tobacco or alcohol or about VAT or fuel fraud can speak to a Customs officer in complete confidence at Customs Confidential 24 hours a day on 0800 59 5000. Or fax 0800 528 0506, write to Freepost SEA9391, PO Box 100, DA12 2BR, or e-mail customs.confidential@hmce.gsi.gov.uk www.hmce.gov.uk