Lorry driver jailed for trying to smuggle cannabis into the UK via North East Lincolnshire port
Sergei Bacaianov was stopped by Border Force in May last year
A lorry driver from Ireland has been jailed for two and a half years for trying to smuggle cannabis into the UK via a North East Lincolnshire port.
More than £600,000 worth of the Class B drug was discovered.
Sergei Bacaianov from the Blanchardstown area had been travelling from Holland when his vehicle was stopped at Killingholme port in Immingham on May 4th last year
Border Force saw he'd been carrying fresh chicken - and they then made the discovery in two underfloor compartments, which the 42 year old denied any knowledge of, but DNA evidence showed he had known and even helped load the drugs onto his vehicle.
Bacaianov was sentenced today after admitting charges at Grimsby Crown Court last month.
NCA Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham said: "Sergei Bacaianov was not only aware of the illegal load he was smuggling, but involved in loading the drugs into a sophisticated hide beneath the floor of his trailer to avoid detection at the border.
"We believe these drugs would have been destined for onward travel to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland where they would have been sold on the streets, the profits from which would have been used to commit further serious and organised crime.
"The NCA works closely with partners both in the UK and overseas to disrupt criminal hauliers who use their legitimate loads, often foodstuffs, to transport their illegal commodities into the UK.
"The message to those who choose to get involved in this type of criminality is simple – the NCA and our partner enforcement agencies will use every available tactic to identify you, seize your vehicles and bring you to justice."