Cocaine Smugglers Plead Guilty

29 March 2010, 16:10 | Updated: 29 March 2010, 16:16

Two Spanish nationals have today admitted charges of attempting to smuggle 30kgs of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.4 million, through the Port of Southampton.

In a joint operation between the UK Border Agency and Hampshire Constabulary, 28-year-old Tanasu De Jesus Quevedo-Ojeda and Oliver Vidal Hernandez, aged 27, were arrested as they disembarked the Black Watch cruise liner at 10am on Saturday (27 March).

They both pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates Court this morning and will next appear on 29 April at Southampton Crown Court.

Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations for the UK Border Agency, said, “UK Border Agency officers work tirelessly to stop Class A drugs reaching our streets. We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many. Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the Customs’ hotline on 0800 59 5000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Shirley Dinnell, Head of CID at Hampshire Constabulary, said, "Hampshire Constabulary along with other law enforcement partners is determined to tackle the supply of controlled drugs in the UK. This operation jointly conducted with the UK Border Agency has recovered a significant amount Class A drugs and should act as a clear deterrent to those responsible for causing misery to so many people."