Sunday 8 April 2012

Sweet-Toothed Coke Smuggler Snared



A cocaine smuggler caught with over half a million pounds worth of the drug - disguised as innocent chocolate bars - has been locked-up for five years and three months.

Madrid delivery driver Ivan Lopez Sacido, 50, (pic.top) was stopped at Gatwick Airport after stepping off a flight from Trinidad and Tobago.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday to importing 2.77 kilos of cocaine - with a street value of £547,000 - on January 25.

Prosecutor Miss Shekinah Anson told the court Sacido was stopped in the green 'nothing to declare channel ' and a narcotics dog showed interest in a suitcase he was wheeling behind him.

"It was examined and two black bin liners filled with chocolate were found. It tested positive for cocaine.

"He made full admissions, saying he needed money and knew the drugs were in the chocolate."

Hundreds of chocolate bars, including Snickers (pic.bottom) were identified as containing cocaine and the defendant admitted he was delivering them to Belgium for £5,000.

Sacido's lawyer Mr. P. Luttman said: "He has no previous involvement in drugs or the international drug trade and no previous convictions.

"He is a single man and has a mother in her eighties living in Madrid who is dependant on him.

"Until 2009 things were going well. He had a good job as a delivery driver and owned a home in Madrid.

"He says he lost his job and it was impossible to find work and was dependant on state benefits.

"The bank repossessed his home last year, leaving him in negative equity of one hundred and fifty thousand euros.

"His benefits were due to stop in January this year and in those financial circumstances he was recruited to import drugs."

Judge Thomas Joseph told Sacido: "This is a significant quantity of cocaine. You were a courier and knew the risks and the seriousness of what you were doing.

"Couriers play an essential part in the distribution of drugs."

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