MAN CHARGED AFTER CUSTOMS SEIZE 1 MILLION OF COCAINE

5 Apr 2004 06:15 PM

A 57 year-old Londoner was charged this afternoon with smuggling over 1 million of cocaine into the UK after Customs Officers found about 18 kilos of the drug in hand baggage at Gatwick Airport.

Paul Stephenson, Head of Customs Operations at Gatwick said: "Customs vigilance has prevented this amount of cocaine from reaching its destination. We will continue to work to the Government's aim of reducing the availability of class A drugs."

Raymond Olureimi Mide Sholanke was stopped by Customs Officers at Gatwick early this morning having arrived on a flight from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sholanke of 200b, Northumberland Park, Tottenham, London was arrested, questioned and subsequently charged with importing a controlled drug after officers found tape-wrapped packages of cocaine being carried in hand baggage.

Sholanke has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates Court, tomorrow, Tuesday 06 April 2004.

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. Cocaine is a class A drug.

2. 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.

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

4. 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 Press enquiries only please contact:

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