Suffolk: Man Guilty in Largest Ever Drugs Haul

26 July 2012, 17:24 | Updated: 26 July 2012, 17:44

A man's been found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs after around £34 million of cocaine was found at an address in Brandon.

Following a two week trial at Ipswich Crown Court, unemployed man, Frederick Colverson, 56 years from Galsworthy Avenue, London was found guilty by the jury and will be sentenced on Tuesday 7th August, together with Terance Smith, 57 years, a Company Director from Ethelreda Drive, Thetford who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs at an earlier hearing.

The arrests of Colverson and Smith took place following an intelligence led operation, which had taken place over several months with officers gathering information relating to the importation of cocaine through Felixstowe Docks. The operation culminated on 31 October 2012 when officers attended premises in Highbury Road, Brandon where a container had been taken to an industrial unit.

Frederick Colverson and Terance Smith were arrested at the scene on suspicion of the importation of cocaine and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. Both men were charged on the 3 November with conspiring to supply a Class A drug. 

Frederick Colverson:                   Terance Smith:

Following searches at the premises, a total of 174 kilos of high purity cocaine was recovered, concealed within a consignment of pineapples. The cocaine had a street value of £34,000,000 - Suffolk's largest seizure of Class A drugs.

Following the trial at Ipswich Crown Court Detective Inspector Benny Benford said: "The result at court today follows a detailed and lengthy operation involving officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Directorate, Intelligence Directorate and partner agencies including the UK Border Agency and Forensic Services.

"Suffolk Constabulary is committed to tackling and dismantling organised crime groups. The discovery of £34m worth of cocaine will have a significant impact and disruption on drug activity and criminality taking place within Suffolk and wider areas of the country."