Cocaine Courier Jailed For Smuggling Drugs In His Stomach

Cocaine: Gatwick Airport 

A convicted drug dealer, who was caught smuggling £23,000 worth of cocaine he swallowed before boarding a flight from Peru, has been jailed for three years and four months.

Lloyd Iain Powell, 36, of  Greenfields, Sellindge, Ashford, Kent pleaded guilty to smuggling 303gms of the drug at Gatwick Airport on February 14.

Croydon Crown Court heard the cocaine had a purity of between 62% and 76% and a street value of £23,616.

He had flown in from Peru via Spain and x-rays taken by suspicious Border Force officers revealed suspicious contents within his stomach.

While detained at HMP High Down Powell developed deep vein thrombosis in his leg and is awaiting an operation.

He also remains on the prison's 'danger of self-harm programme'.

Powell's lawyer Mr. Nicholas Hamblin asked the court to pass a more lenient sentence, stating the defendant was not an organiser.

“It is a lesser role. There is an element of pressure involved,” he said.

When remanded in custody for a medical report Recorder John Bate-Williams told him: “This is inevitably going to be a custodial sentence.

“Any time you are serving now will be credited against the eventual sentence.”

The court ordered the cocaine to be forfeited and Powell must pay a £120 victim surcharge.