A plane passenger, who smuggled £30,000 worth of cannabis hidden inside Jamaican pineapple and ackee fruit, was jailed for twenty months yesterday.
Ex-Vauxhall General Motors engineer Owen John Smith, 53, of Ravenhill Way, Luton pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to importing 10.8 kilos of the drug at Gatwick Airport on December 10, last year.
Prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon told the court UK Border Agency officers searched Smith's suitcase after he stepped off a Jamaican flight.
"Inside were various foods, including pineapple and frozen ackee, and concealed within that fruit were packages containing cannabis."
When quizzed, Smith, who has a twenty year-old conviction for possession of cannabis with intent to supply, refused to answer questions.
His lawyer, Clive Smith said: "He was bringing the suitcase back for someone and feels foolish that there were drugs inside it and that he was taken advantage of."
The father-of-two was told by Judge Jeremy Gold QC: "You were involved in attempting to bring in cannabis with a street value of thirty thousand pounds, which was concealed within fruit.
"You are certainly not naive in matters relating to cannabis and I place you at the junior end of a significant role."
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