IMMIGRATION WORKER GUILTY OF DRUG SMUGGLING AT GATWICK

24 Oct 2003 04:45 PM

An Immigration Service administrative assistant and his accomplice were today sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at Guildford Crown Court having pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 2.15kilos of cocaine into the UK. The drug has an estimated street value of £161,000.

Peter Avery, Assistant Chief Investigation Officer said, "

"This is an excellent example of the working partnerships HM Customs & Excise has with other law enforcement agencies, both here and abroad. This operation sends a clear and unequivocal message to the public that Customs will actively pursue and apprehend those airport workers who seek to abuse their positions of trust and facilitate criminality."

On Saturday 7th June, Customs Law Enforcement Investigation officers observed Danny Delroy Johnson (36) unemployed, of 38 Horle Walk, Camberwell, London SE5 9EF arriving at Gatwick Airport on a flight from St Lucia. He had a black rucksack on his back.

At the same time Kevin Sean Brown, (33), an Immigration
Administrative Assistant, of 44 Cromwell House, Old Town, Croydon CR0 1AS arrived at the airport although he was not on duty.

Officers saw Johnson pass through Immigration controls and enter the baggage reclaim hall. They also observed Brown use his airside pass to enter the reclaim hall and pass Johnson. Both men moved towards one end of the reclaim hall and proceeded down stairs where, on the landing, the rucksack containing the cocaine was passed from Johnson to Brown.

Brown continued down the stairs where he was arrested by Customs officers. Johnson returned to the baggage reclaim hall but was later arrested by Customs officers.

In interview, Johnson claimed he was carrying the rucksack off the aircraft for someone else, however, as a tie belonging to him was found in the rucksack this story was disproved.

Brown claimed he was at the airport on the off chance that he could work an early shift and that when he saw the rucksack on the stairs considered it unattended baggage and was taking it to his supervisor.

Both men subsequently pleaded guilty to being knowingly concerned in the importation of cocaine.

Johnson received 8 years and Brown received 10 years imprisonment. On sentencing Brown, His Honour Judge Inman stated that he had usurped a position of trust. The Customs investigation was conducted with the full co-operation of the British Airports Authority (BAA), UK Immigration Service and law enforcement partners both here and in St Lucia.

Notes for editors

1. Cocaine is a class A drug

2. Maximum penalty for class A drug smuggling is up to life imprisonment and / or an unlimited fine

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