Cocaine smuggled from St Lucia in honey jar

Saturday, October 11, 2003

CROYDON, England: According to a report in the Nottingham Evening Post, a British man was jailed for six and a half years for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the UK through Gatwick Airport from St Lucia, with the drug mixed in a jar of honey.

Customs officials became suspicious when the jar appeared "suspiciously heavy".

At Croydon Crown Court, Luke Shepherd pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of the drug worth £36,000 (US$60,000).

Mr Shepherd landed at Gatwick Airport from St Lucia on July 28 where he was stopped and searched.

Nicholas Vamos, prosecuting, said: "Customs officers opened his suitcase and found a bottle of honey which seemed suspiciously heavy. The contents proved positive for cocaine. There was a total of just under half a kilo.

"At first, he denied knowing the drugs were there and claimed he had paid £20 (US$35) for the honey."

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