Latest news with #borderforce
The Independent
17-05-2025
- The Independent
Drug smugglers caught with £37 million of cocaine in inflatable boat are jailed
Two drug smugglers who tried to move tens of millions of pounds of cocaine into the UK using an inflatable boat have been jailed. Bruce Knowles, 56, of Dereham, Norfolk, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 32, from the Netherlands, were respectively sentenced to 17 years and three months in prison and 15 years during a hearing on Friday. The pair were caught by Border Force near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk in June last year attempting to sneak £37 million of cocaine into the UK. Officers discovered 350kg of cocaine, with a high purity rate of 78 to 84 per cent, hidden under a tarpaulin in the boat's hull. It is believed the men retrieved the drugs from a larger vessel off the coast of France. Two months earlier, they had completed a 'dry run', the court heard. In the June incident, the drug smugglers failed to stop for Border Force, with Gumrukguoglu jumping overboard and swimming towards shore while Knowles restarted the boat's engines and attempted to flee. Gumrukguoglu was arrested eight hours later after being found wandering around the town of Beccles barefoot by officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Police. Knowles' boat was grounded on a beach near Lowestoft after a pursuit, and he too jumped overboard to try to evade arrest. Paul Orchard, NCA operations manager, said: 'This was a fast-moving and dynamic interception of two men attempting to smuggle in a huge quantity of Class A drugs. 'Knowles and Gumrukguoglu continued to try and evade arrest to avoid a significant loss for their crime group.' The court was told that a van was waiting in Orton Broad to transport the smugglers and the haul of drugs ready for distribution at a second location. Judge Benson said the pair's 'substantial and important' role meant their sentences would be significant. 'If people like you were not prepared to smuggle large quantities of cocaine, then cocaine would not be available for addicts in the UK,' he said. Charlie Eastaugh, Border Force Maritime Director added in a statement: "Border Force officers are committed to disrupting organised crime and keeping Britain safe by preventing deadly drugs from reaching our streets. "During this pursuit, maritime officers bravely intercepted these criminals and seized 350kg of cocaine, ensuring those who threatened our border security are now facing the full force of the law."
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Immigration detainee who allegedly attacked two prison guards and sparked a manhunt is finally caught
An immigration detainee who allegedly attacked two border force officers before escaping a van has been arrested following a two-day manhunt. Police were called to Clyde in western Sydney about 3.40am on Thursday following reports a male officer, 54, had been stabbed in the neck and cheek. A second male officer, 36, was also assaulted, with both rushed to hospital. NSW Police said the officers were transporting 28-year-old Tongan National Paea Teu from Villawood to Sydney Airport when the alleged incident occurred. Teu allegedly escaped the van, sparking a two-day manhunt that ended on Friday after he was spotted at a home in Eschol Park in Sydney's southwest. He was arrested by police and later charged with causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was refused bail and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. A 24-year-old woman was also arrested at the home and was charged with knowingly harbouring, maintaining or employing an escaped inmate. She was granted bail and is expected to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday. NSW Police have said inquiries remain ongoing.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Facing jail, law student who was caught with £150,000 worth of cannabis at airport
A law student is facing a lengthy jail sentence after she was caught attempting to smuggle £150,000 of drugs through Edinburgh Airport. Sage-Ahliea Gold was found to be carrying more than 35lbs of herbal cannabis in a suitcase when she arrived at the capital's airport in August last year. Gold, who is currently studying law at the University of Greenwich, was said to have broken down in tears when she was confronted by border force officials following a search of her luggage. The 25-year-old, from East Dulwich, London, was arrested and charged and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where she pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday. (TUES) Fiscal depute Jennifer McLaren told the court that Gold arrived at the Scottish capital after flying in from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on August 11 last year. Ms McLaren said all the luggage from the flight was being screened and a suitcase was identified with 'a number of packages within'. Gold was subsequently seen 'uplifting the case and attending at the nothing to declare exit' where she was pulled aside by security officials. The court was told: 'Ms Gold was then stopped and she answered some standard questions and said she had travelled from New York and had packed her bag. 'She unlocked the case and officers observed a number of personal possessions and vacuum packed packages that appeared to contain herbal material. 'Ms Gold at this point was cautioned and told she did not need to provide information other than her name, date of birth and nationality. 'She didn't respond and put her hand to her face and began to cry.' The prosecutor said there were 30 vacuum sealed packages found in the suitcase containing a total of 16.14 kilograms of cannabis with a value of £61,332. The court was told if the drugs were spit into 'half kilo deals' the value would be £75,000 and when split into one gram bags the value was £150,000. Solicitor Charles Morrison, defending, said he would reserve his mitigation to the sentence hearing. Sheriff Charles Walls said: 'You have now been convicted of the offence relating to the importation of drugs, a significant amount of cannabis. 'This is obviously a serious offence with a lot of drugs involved so I will have to give this considerable consideration.' Gold was released on bail and sentence was deferred for social work reports to next month.
