BA STEWARD GUILTY OF DRUG SMUGGLING

30 Jul 2003 05:45 PM

A British Airways (BA) steward and his accomplice were today found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of attempted drug smuggling and sentenced to a total of 33 years imprisonment for their part in a plot to smuggle over 6 kilos of cocaine worth £360 000 into the UK.

Customs investigator, Duncan Honeyman said

"A greater level of trust is given to and expected from aircrew, so the sentences given reflect the betrayal of this trust. HM Customs and Excise are committed to protecting our society and this case sends a strong message to all those engaged in drug trafficking, that we will not tolerate their criminal activities"

On 13 June 2002, Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski, (38) of 177 Edgar Road, Hounslow, Middlesex arrived at Gatwick Airport on flight BA2262 from Kingston, Jamaica. He had been working on the flight in his post as a steward for British Airways. When he was stopped by Customs, he informed the officer that the blue Samsonite suitcase he was carrying was not his, in spite of the fact that the case had a BA Crew identity label on it, which he identified as his.

On opening the case, the Customs officers found a white pillowcase containing six slabs of tape wrapped packages in various plastic bags believed to be cocaine. A forensic analysis has since confirmed the quantity concerned as being 6.01 kilograms of cocaine.

Following enquiries, Richard Anthony Jarrett (48) a self-employed decorator of 5 Valley Gardens, Wembley, Middlesex was arrested on 15th June 2002 on his arrival at Gatwick Airport from Jamaica on flight BA 2262.

He denied being involved in drug smuggling or of knowing Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski during interview. Whilst Jarrett and Akpabio-Klementowski claimed not to know each other, both were in possession of the other's phone number and had called one another frequently. They had also stayed in the same hotels, at the same time in the Caribbean and South America, on a number of occasions over the previous 2 years.

Late on 15th June 2002 both Jarrett and Akpabio-Klementowski were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the UK.

Their trial began at Croydon Crown Court on 28th April and they were found guilty on Friday 6th June.

Akpabio-Klementowski was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment and Jarrett was sentenced to 17 years. Both were given a 5 - year travel restriction order once they are released.

British Airways co-operated fully with Customs during the investigation and are continuing to help on a range of drug-related initiatives in the Caribbean.

Notes for editors

Cocaine is a class A drug

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

Air crew are subject to the same Customs controls as passengers.

Members of the public can help Customs tackle drug smuggling - if they have any information they can call the Customs Confidential Hotline on 0800 59 5000.

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