UK: 58 years old man smuggles drugs

The court heard that John Geddes was stopped by HMRC officers on the 03 August 2007 at Newhaven after arriving on a ferry from Dieppe. Geddes was driving a hired Vauxhall Zafira car and was stopped and questioned by officers. As the officers began to search the vehicle, Geddes stated that there was cocaine in the car.

Officers found a number of packages hidden under the driver and passenger seats and further packages were found under the rear folded seats. The packages contained seven kilos of powder of which 3.125 kilos were pure cocaine.

Despite his initial admissions Geddes offered a defence of duress claiming that he had been pressurised into bring the drugs to the United Kingdom by persons to whom he owed money. This was not accepted by the jury and he was convicted following a three day trial.

On sentencing Geddes HH Judge Anthony said: "Not for the first time you have offended, although the first in relation to drugs. You will receive no credit. You have shown little consideration and no remorse. You are sentenced to 12 years."

John Reith Geddes, of no fixed abode was jailed for 12 years for being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation thereof imposed by section 3(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Contrary to Section 170 (2), (3) and (4) of and Schedule 1 to the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.