Sentences totalling 19 years for dealers linked to record South African drugs haul
26 November 2010
Heroin seized at Heathrow leads to record drugs haul in South Africa – all of which was destined for the UK – and combined 19 year sentences for the two UK members of the gang.
SOCA operation Exhaust began with the seizure of 153 kilos of heroin by the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport. By the time the operation had concluded, heroin and cannabis with a combined street value of around £35 million had been recovered, including the largest drug seizure ever to take place in South Africa, all destined for the UK.
The heroin seized by UKBA on 10th September 2009 had been hidden within boxes of African curios, destined for Nicholas Fullbrook at a business address in Dartford, Kent. SOCA officers removed the drugs and undercover officers delivered the consignment. Fullbrook was arrested when a search of the premises discovered a further 71 kilos of heroin hidden in a locked attic room.
Evidence from the search led the investigation to South Africa, where rapid sharing of intelligence resulted in six arrests by the South African Police Service in Durban and the recovery of 6,500 kilos of cannabis and 100 kilos of heroin, all destined for the UK. Two British men, brothers Paul and John Beasley, and a South African man have already been sentenced to 12 years in South Africa, with a further South African man receiving a 25 year sentence. Two further males, one British and one South African await trial.
Sean Kelly, who was identified as being involved in the distribution of the drugs following their delivery to Fullbrook, was arrested by SOCA at in Bromley, Kent, in June this year. On September 10th, he pleaded guilty conspiracy to import heroin and was sentenced to 13 yrs on 25th November. Nicholas Fullbrook pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cannabis on 29th September, and was sentenced to six years.
Trevor Symes, Regional Head of Investigation for SOCA, said:
"Protecting the UK from the harm caused by drug trafficking means going beyond the UK's borders and targeting the people behind the trade. These seizures are a great example of what can happen when partners work together. Both ends of this international chain have been attacked, and a significant amount of heroin has been kept off the UK's streets."
UK Border Agency Heathrow Director Philip Astle said:
“This case involved one of the biggest consignments of heroin ever discovered at Heathrow. It demonstrates the success we and our law enforcement partners are having in stopping the drug smuggling operations of international criminal gangs.
“The UK Border Agency is at the forefront of the fight to stop illegal drugs entering the UK, with highly trained officers using advanced intelligence gathering systems and the latest search equipment.
“We will continue to work with SOCA and other agencies to ensure that the smugglers are stopped and put behind bars.”