57 years jail for Colombian cocaine gang

24 Jul 2006 10:45 AM

A Colombian cocaine gang living in London have been jailed for a total of 57 years at Southwark Crown Court, after being convicted of harbouring 108 kilos of cocaine worth £7.2 million.

Clive Davis, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Assistant Chief Investigation Officer said:

"This is the successful culmination of an investigation into the importation of cocaine into the UK from South America. HM Revenue & Customs is committed to reducing the availability of Class A drugs by detecting and deterring the smuggling of illegal drugs and other restricted and prohibited goods. We have succeeded in stopping over £7 million worth of drugs reaching our streets. The criminality surrounding class A drugs can devastate communities. We will reduce the harm caused by drugs, taking out cocaine and heroin targeted on the UK, and disrupting the criminal gangs who seek to profit from it."

The court heard that following a surveillance operation in April 2005, the defendants were arrested after Customs Officers stopped a car driven by Alexander Anoyave Agudelo in Stoke Newington, London. During a search of the vehicle officers found about 25 kilos of cocaine in two holdalls. The officers then went to a flat in Heather Lodge, St. Kilda's Road, Stoke Newington and recovered a further 83 kilos of cocaine. Further enquiries resulted in the arrest and charge of four men and two women, all Colombians living in London, with harbouring a controlled drug.

The gang were responsible for receiving cocaine that had been smuggled into the UK, storing it, and then breaking it down for distribution.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases.

Notes for editors

1. Six people were charged with harbouring a controlled drug. Agudelo and Rios pleaded guilty. Justinico, Garces-Rossero and Giraldo were convicted after a six-week long trial in April 2006 at Southwark Crown Court. A fourth man was acquitted.

2. The full details of those sentenced at Southwark Crown Court last Friday, 21 July 2006 are:

Victor Maurizio Gonzalez Justinico (male, 36) 21 years imprisonment Occupation - Decorator
Finchley, London.

Liliana Andrea Garces-Rossero (female, 31) 17 years imprisonment. Occupation - Unemployed
Palmers Green, London.

Alexander Anoyave Agudelo (male, 30) 12 years imprisonment. Occupation - Handyman/decorator
Tottenham, London

Omaira Zuluaga Giraldo (female, 32) 7 years imprisonment. Occupation - Cleaner
Stoke Newington, London.

Hector Fabio Correa Rios (male, 31) Sentencing adjourned until a later date.
Occupation - Cleaner
Stoke Newington, London.

3. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by Royal Assent on 18 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK. For further information regarding the RCPO contact their press office on 020 7865 5666.

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Media Relations
Website www.hmrc.gov.uk

Customs Confidential Hotline
Tel: 0800 59 5000