London - A drug smuggler from Benoni who used a pet transportation business as cover to import R23m of heroin into the UK has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Scott Parker, 43, stashed nine kilograms of heroin in the bottom of crates used to fly cats from OR Tambo International to London’s Heathrow last November.
Unknown to him, airport workers at Heathrow Animal Reception Centre had noticed the three crates were heavier than normal and alerted the country’s National Crime Agency, whose officers discovered the packages of high-purity heroin. If cut and sold on the streets of the UK, the NCA believe the drug’s are worth around £1.2m (about R23m).
Parker was arrested as he waited to collect the three cats, later reunited with their owners, who had been relocating to the UK, unaware of the drama.
Parker, who lives in Benoni but has joint British-SA nationality, has been on remand since the arrest last November.
He worked as a “pet relocation” consultant advising clients on transporting their cats and dogs abroad.
On Friday, he admitted to charges of attempting to import a class A drug and was jailed jailed by Isleworth Crown Court in west London for seven-and-a-half years. Ian Truby, from the National Crime Agency’s Border Investigation Team at Heathrow, said: “This was a highly unusual attempt to bring a substantial quantity of class A drugs into the UK.
“Parker thought he would avoid our attention. But the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre staff were vigilant and our investigation showed he knew the drugs were there.
“Working with Border Force, we will continue to target those who attempt to bring illegal drugs into the UK.”
Border Force Heathrow director Marc Owen had previously said: “Border Force works closely with law enforcement colleagues, including the NCA, to prevent drug trafficking and will always do all we can to put those responsible behind bars.
“Those who engage in drug smuggling should be in no doubt that they will face justice.”
Saturday Star