Drugs: watch out for people sniffing their desks

Four men were sentenced yesterday to a total of 50 years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court for their parts in the smuggling of over 6kgs of pure cocaine into the UK. The drugs were smuggled from Mexico City into Heathrow inside a consignment of computer desks last June. Officers uncovered just under 12kg of powder containing the equivalent of 6.48kg of pure cocaine. The drugs were estimated to be worth around GBP300,000 wholesale and significantly more in street value.

Glen Ford Clark (49) and Bimal Puri (50) were found guilty last month and were sentenced each to 15 years in prison for their parts in the smuggling. Jose Ramon Perdomo (49) and Barry Hearn (28) both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 and 8 years respectively. Passing sentence, Judge Hezlett Colgan said: "This was a large and valuable quantity of cocaine, and in my view this was a well-planned enterprise in which each of you played a part."

Due Diligence Information

Jose Ramon Perdomo. DOB 04.11.58

Glen Ford Clark. DOB 26.01.59

Bimal Puri. DOB 10.08.57 5.

Barry Hearn. DOB 23.09.79

Statement of Offence: Being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of goods, contrary to Section 170(2)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1978.

Particulars of Offence: Glen Ford Clark, Bimal Puri, Jose Ramon Perdomo and Barry Hearn, between the 30th day of March 2007 and the 2nd day of July 2007, in relation to a Class A controlled drug, namely approximately 6.5kg of cocaine, were knowinglyconcerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation imposed by section 3(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.