Lorry driver jailed for smuggling cannabis

A Spanish lorry driver has been jailed for five years after attempting to smuggle two tonnes of cannabis resin into the UK.

The drugs had an estimated street value of £5.6 million.

Border Force officers stopped a Spanish-registered lorry at the UK freight controls at the Channel Tunnel entrance in Coquelles France on 5 June 2014.

After questioning the driver, Francisco Javier Santiago Solera officers searched the lorry and its load of furniture.

Officers found the drugs had been wrapped in hessian sacks, dipped in wax and placed in three large shrink wrapped cardboard boxes underneath the furniture.

Santiago Solera was arrested and an investigation carried out by the National Crime Agency.

He was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, 5 December and was sentenced to five years imprisonment there today.

Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe said:

“This was an excellent seizure and I would like to pay tribute to the Border Force officers who play a crucial role in protecting the UK from illegal drugs every day.

“We work closely with law enforcement colleagues, including the NCA, to prevent drug trafficking and do all we can to put those responsible behind bars.”