Drug couriers caught hiding £2m of cocaine in van in Maidenhead jailed for 11 years

Drug couriers who tried to hide cocaine worth £2m in the back of a van have been jailed for 11 years each.

Paul Worthington was seen on Thursday the 20th of May 2021 passing a laundry style bag to Roy Basson during a drug deal in Maidenhead.

Basson then disappeared into the back of his Citroen Berlingo van and as officers approached him he was witnessed attempting to hide 20 blocks of cocaine inside a specially built compartment.

The drugs had an estimated street value of between £1m and £2m.

Both men were arrested by officers and as part of the investigation police also seized two mobile phones and a notepad with postcodes written down.

On Thursday the 23rd of September 2021, Basson, 39, of Stonehouse Road, Sevenoaks, and Worthington, 41, of Bryant Avenue, Slough, were both sentenced after they each admitted a charge of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Basson was also charged with acquiring criminal property, which was ordered to lie on file.

The drug couriers were each jailed for 11 years at Maidstone Crown Court and the judge also passed a forfeiture and destruction order for the drugs, cash and van.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Stuart Clayton said: 'This was a significant drug find which involved a vehicle being professionally modified in order to hide a large amount of cocaine.