TWO MEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO IMPORT DRUGS

4 Dec 2003 10:45 AM

Two men will appear at Staines Magistrates Court this morning charged with the Customs offence of conspiracy to import a class A drug into the UK.

Raymond Harmes (46) the landlord of The Happy Landings Pub, Clare Road, Stanwell and Gary Crane (48) a BA engineer 39 Minsterley Road Sunbury on Thames were arrested on Tuesday 2nd December in a joint Customs and Surrey Police operation centring on Heathrow Airport.

They were charged with the customs offence late last night (Wednesday 3rd December).

Notes for editors:

1. A third man from Ashford, Middlesex has been charged by Surrey police with three counts of supplying Class A drugs.

2. The fourth man and a woman arrested during the operation have been released on bail.

The text of an earlier press release relating to this operation is reprinted below:-

HM Customs & Excise and Surrey Police smash drug importation ring at Heathrow

In a joint operation yesterday, Customs & Excise and Surrey Police smashed a drug trafficking gang that is believed to have been importing large quantities of cocaine into the UK through Heathrow Airport for distribution in Surrey and South West London.

Over one hundred police officers and Customs investigators took part in the operation at Heathrow Airport and at a number of addresses in the Stanwell area in North Surrey. During the operation six people were arrested and a plot to import 200 kilos of cocaine worth in excess of £1 million street value was foiled.

Peter Avery, Assistant Chief Investigation Officer of Customs & Excise said: "This excellent result displays that our law enforcement agencies are working together and are fully committed to fighting the smuggling and distribution of Class A drugs in the UK. This should send a message to all those involved in criminal activities, whether at importation or street level that we will catch you, and you will be prosecuted."

Superintendent Richard Morris of Surrey Police said: "Class A drugs such as crack and cocaine have been identified as amongst the biggest threats to the continued safety of Surrey. The operation we have carried out today will have a significant impact upon the availability of these drugs in North Surrey and demonstrates that we are determined to take action against those who think they are untouchable. Surrey Police has a policy of zero tolerance against the suppliers of Class A drugs. This is an example of inter-agency law enforcement at its best." Geoff Want, Director of Safety, Security and Risk Management at British Airways said: "We are glad to have been able to help in this operation. It is in the interests of us all to keep criminal gangs off the streets."

Those arrested have been taken to Staines Police Station where they remain in custody this morning.

The arrests were the result of a long-running joint police and Customs operation that was carried out with the co-operation of British Airways Corporate Security. One of the persons arrested is a British Airways employee.

ENDS
03/12/2003

Members of the public can help Customs tackle drug smuggling - if they have any information they can contact the Customs Confidential Hotline in one of four ways:

Freephone: 0800 59 5000.
Freefax: 0800 528 0506
E-mail: customs.confidential@hmce.gsi.gov.uk
Freepost: Customs Confidential, Freepost SEA 939, P.O. Box 100, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BR

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Communications Division

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