HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (Ref:NAT 23/08) issued by The Government News
Network on 7 May 2008
A London based
teenager was jailed for five years and six months at Croydon Crown
Court for attempting to smuggle 4K of cocaine, with an estimated
street value of £200k, into the UK through Gatwick Airport.
Carly Plunkett (19) was stopped by officers of HM Revenue &
Customs (HMRC) officers coming back from a holiday in Banjul,
Gambia. Plunkett was questioned by Customs officers who then
searched her luggage and found the cocaine hidden at the back. She
was arrested and charged with the illegal Importation of
controlled drugs.
Paul Stevenson, HMRC Senior Business Manager, at Gatwick Airport, said:
"Cases such as this should be a warning to anyone that drugs
destroy lives; whether you are a user or a trafficker you are
gambling with your life if you meddle in the drug trade. The use
of such young people in the smuggling of drugs demonstrates the
ruthless nature of those criminal gangs involved in the illegal
narcotics trade. These gangs are merciless and are more than happy
to sacrifice the lives and liberty of young people in order to
enrich themselves with total disregard for the misery they cause.
"The work of UK Borders Agency Officers in intelligence and
detection is paramount in smashing drug supply routes to the UK
thus preventing deadly drugs from reaching the streets of our
towns and cities".
The case was prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecution
Office (RCPO) which was created by Royal Assent on 07 April 2005
and is an independent prosecuting authority reporting directly to
the Attorney General.
Notes for editors
1. The UK Border Agency, consisting of staff from UK Borders and
Immigration, HMRC and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, began
operation on 3 April 2008 and was officially launched by the Home
Secretary at Gatwick Airport. Its formation was announced in
November 2007 (Home Office Press Notice no. 178/2007).
2. West Africa has been identified in the United Nations Office
of Drugs & Crime Annual Drugs Report 2006 and the UK Threat
Assessment identifies the region as a staging post for Class A
drugs targeted on the UK.
3. The air courier route from West Africa, either directly to
the UK or in transit through other EU airports, is identified as a
specific threat.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk