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16/10/2008
'Boxer Shorts' Drug Smuggler Jailed
A 38-year-old painter and decorator from Sparkhill, Birmingham, has been jailed for six and a half years today for smuggling heroin (pictured) and for concealing cannabis and heroin in the boxer shorts he was wearing when he was stopped at Birmingham airport.
The heroin was hidden inside two DVD players he was carrying in his luggage when he returned from a trip to Pakistan in May this year.
The successful investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) followed the arrest of Zareb Hussain, by officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), when he arrived at Birmingham International airport on a flight from Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, 21 May 2008.
Officers conducted a search of Hussain's luggage and found two DVD players in his suitcase.
The DVD players were X-rayed. Nestled in the wiring, four packages were identified in the first player and five packages in the second. The packages were tested along with a small set of electronic scales which were also found. Both gave a positive result as heroin.
A further three grams of heroin and a small quantity of cannabis were found concealed in the boxer shorts Hussain was wearing.
Hussain pleaded guilty today when officers provided forensic evidence proving his fingerprints were on the drugs packages. He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for smuggling nearly 1.2 kilos of heroin and being in possession of a further quantity of heroin and cannabis, The drugs are valued at £50,000, although this would have doubled or even trebled once 'cut' by drug dealers as it hit the UK streets.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, an independent prosecuting authority which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases.
(JM)
The heroin was hidden inside two DVD players he was carrying in his luggage when he returned from a trip to Pakistan in May this year.
The successful investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) followed the arrest of Zareb Hussain, by officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), when he arrived at Birmingham International airport on a flight from Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, 21 May 2008.
Officers conducted a search of Hussain's luggage and found two DVD players in his suitcase.
The DVD players were X-rayed. Nestled in the wiring, four packages were identified in the first player and five packages in the second. The packages were tested along with a small set of electronic scales which were also found. Both gave a positive result as heroin.
A further three grams of heroin and a small quantity of cannabis were found concealed in the boxer shorts Hussain was wearing.
Hussain pleaded guilty today when officers provided forensic evidence proving his fingerprints were on the drugs packages. He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for smuggling nearly 1.2 kilos of heroin and being in possession of a further quantity of heroin and cannabis, The drugs are valued at £50,000, although this would have doubled or even trebled once 'cut' by drug dealers as it hit the UK streets.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, an independent prosecuting authority which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases.
(JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
