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Cannabis smuggler is jailed for 20 months
03 July 2009
A man who attempted to smuggle more than 8kg of cannabis resin into the United Kingdom was sentenced to 20 months in jail at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.
Michael Richter, a 56-year-old currently living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, was stopped by UK Border Agency officers when he arrived at Edinburgh Airport in May 2009 on a flight from Delhi via Paris.
Officers searched his luggage and found 8.37kg of the drug, worth £24,000, hidden inside.
After questioning by HM Revenue & Customs, Richter was charged with the illegal importation of the drug.
An extradition hearing will be held on 8 July 2009 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
HM Revenue & Customs' assistant director of investigation in Scotland, Anne-Marie Gordon, said:
'Today's case sends another significant warning to criminals who think they can freely smuggle drugs into the UK using regional airports - these are not an easy option. This detection of cannabis resin, and the subsequent conviction of the courier, is the latest in a series of similar successes as we continue to play a key role in protecting communities from the harm caused by illegal drugs.
'By working closely with other law enforcement agencies such as the police and the UK Border Agency we aim to protect the public from the effects caused by drugs and we would encourage anyone with information about this type of activity to contact us on 0800 59 5000.'