MAN AND WOMAN CHARGED AFTER CUSTOMS SEIZE 1 MILLION COCAINE

19 Apr 2004 06:45 PM

A woman from Wolverhampton and a London man have been remanded in custody by Crawley Magistrates today after Customs Officers seized approximately 17 kilos of cocaine at Gatwick Airport yesterday morning.

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."

Tracey Louise Russell, 40, of 22 The Droveway, Pendeford, Wolverhampton and Leroy Kenton, 39, of 18 Allen Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16 were stopped by Customs Officers at Gatwick yesterday morning having arrived on a British Airways flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Russell and Kenton were arrested, questioned and subsequently charged with importing a controlled drug after officers found cocaine in solution and cocaine in tins of peas concealed in baggage.

Russell and Kenton have been remanded in custody and are due to appear again at Haywards Heath Magistrates Court on Wednesday 28 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

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