A Sunderland drug dealer caught trying to import more than £420,000 in cannabis at a UK airport has been jailed. Paul West, 37, of Thomas Street in Ryhope, was arrested by police officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit at Bristol Airport last month at Bristol Airport.
He admitted conspiracy to import cannabis and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday. He was told to serve 28 months in prison.
The police reported that his criminal scheme had involved attempting to bring the “significant” quantity of drugs – upwards of 42kg – into the country from Canada via Dublin.
Det Sgt Stuart Cumine of SWROCU said: “Paul West tried to import a significant quantity of drugs which would have had a street value of at least £420,000. His attempt to go unnoticed by utilising a smaller regional airport failed due to the vigilance of our partners at UK Border Force.
“West’s admission to this conspiracy shows he was part of a wider organised crime group utilising passenger flights to bring drugs into the UK from countries where it is grown legally. West’s prison sentence should serve as a reminder that the importation of drugs is a serious offence and one not worth the risk.”