BIGGEST UK COCAINE SEIZURE THIS YEAR

25 Nov 2002 06:45 PM

Five British men have today been charged and remain in custody suspected of being involved with the UK's largest cocaine haul this year. Customs and Excise foiled an attempt to smuggle 647kgs of cocaine with a street value of £40 million in to the UK in arrests and a raid made last Thursday night, 21 November 2002. The operation is code-named Elysian.

The cocaine was concealed within components of a shipment of heavy plant machinery, which arrived at Felixstowe on 13 November from Ecuador. Specialist cutting equipment had to be used by Customs officers to remove the cocaine from parts of the bulldozer.

The five are:

Rex Duncan Newport, 03. 03.46, British,
Appt 404, 1450 Brickell Bay Drive, Miami, Florida, USA.

His son Duncan Robert Newport, 17.12.67, British,
13 Bro Endwyn, Dyffryn, Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Wales.

Peter Roy Adams, 20.05.60, British,
Ty Hellu, Dyffryn, Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Wales.

Louis Gordon Hillard, no fixed abode, believed to British.

Mark Anthony Reeves, 14.10.65, British,
16 Wheatmill Close, Blakedown, Kidderminster, Worcs.

All appeared today at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court and were remanded in custody until Monday 2nd December 2002.

Notes for editors:
1. Cocaine is a Class A drug. Customs and Excise is responsible for disrupting the supply of Class A drugs to the UK.

2. The smuggling attempt is contrary to S170 of Customs & Excise Management Act 1979.

If using specific facts contained in this release please check the information is still current.

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Communications Division

For the attention of News Desks
Anyone with information about illegally imported drugs, tobacco or alcohol or about VAT fraud can speak to a Customs officer in complete confidence. Call Customs Confidential 24 hours a day on 0800 59 5000 www.hmce.gov.uk