Step-Dad And Step-Daughter Jailed For Brazilian Cocaine Run

Gatwick Airport

A step-father and daughter, caught smuggling over £15,000 worth of cocaine into the UK after a so-called fact-finding coffee trip to Brazil, were both jailed today.

Dainis Grinfelds, 46, and Aiva Skuja, 20, both of The Diamond, Middletown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland both swallowed sealed packets of the 75%-86% pure drug, but were stopped at Gatwick Airport.

They pleaded guilty at west London's Isleworth Crown Court to one count each of importing cocaine on September 9 and Grinfelds received four-and-a-half years and Skuja three-and-a-half years.

The court heard the pair had flown from Sao Paulo via Casablanca and when stopped by customs men Grinfelds claimed he was in South America obtaining coffee samples for his business.

However, a Nike bag in their purple suitcase tested positive for traces of cocaine and when x-rayed Grinfelds had six packets and Skuja seven packets.

Both have been held in custody since their arrest and the obviously-distressed first-time offender Skuja stood beside her step-father in the secure dock.

“He lives in Northern Ireland and has a young family,” explained Mr. Andrew Bullivant, defending. “He is established in Northern Ireland, he has convictions there since 2006.

“He runs a coffee shop and the purpose of the trip to Brazil was to seek out coffee samples and he took his step-daughter with him to source coffee.

“They got into difficulties with money, they were taking in the sights and spending money over what they budgeted for.

“He says they were robbed and their money taken off them and they missed their flight and had to live rough for one to two weeks in Sao Paulo, which was quite a frightening experience.

“He was threatened and felt pressured into agreeing to take the drugs. He agreed to carry the drugs back in exchange for tickets so they could get back safely.

“He has shown me injuries to his legs where he was cut with a knife.

Judge Phillip Matthews told them: “Importation of class A drugs is viewed very seriously and you both played a significant role in importing that cocaine and were motivated by financial gain.

“Neither of you gave any explanation whatsoever in your interviews.”