UK Pair In Jail Over Cocaine Smuggling

A couple hailing from Wigan have received lengthy prison sentences for their implication in the attempt to smuggle ?80,000 worth of at Manchester Airport in 2008.

Forty-three-year-old Stephanie Thomas and thirty-eight-year-old Matthew Wright, respectively received four years six months and six years eight months for the crime from Judge Hernandez.

Judge Hernandez said to the two convicted that pure greed was at the source of their problem.

He said to Thomas that she knew what her partner was doing since he was living well beyond his means and that she had a clear knowledge of what he was going to do.

On the morning of 7 August 2008, the couple was stopped at Manchester Airport by border authorities as they were returning from Venezuela. After searching their luggage, the border officers found 1.25 kilos of cocaine wrapped in packages in a bag shared by the two.

Forensic testing subsequently revealed that the white substance was cocaine with a potential street value of ?80,000.

They were apprehended and their case was handed to HMRC investigators who carried out enquiries.

According to HMRC criminal investigator Mike O’Grady, there is no excuse for any involvement in this harmful and illegal activity, adding that the couple are now paying for their crime.

O’Grady said that this trade endangers the lives of people and contributes to the finances of wider criminal organisations. This is a serious offence, he added.

The investigator said anyone with information about drug smuggling operations can contact the authorities at the Customs Hotline at 0800 59 5000.

HMRC investigators had used its intelligence network which comprised of foreign police authorities as well as the ones in the UK to work on the case, tracking the actions and tracing the travel movements of the couple over several months as well as observing financial transactions between the pair and their suppliers.

Investigators also used evidence collected from mobile phone activity to connect the smugglers to the drug trafficking.

During a trial held in September 2009, Thomas was found guilty of the allegations and Wright had pleaded guilty before the trial.

Additionally, two extra years of prison were given to Wright as a result of a separate forgery charge.