Spanish brothers to spend four years in jail after smuggling cocaine

By Frances Leate

TWO Spanish brothers who attempted to smuggle cocaine worth around €370,000 into the UK have been jailed for a total of nine years.

Spanish nationals Roberto and Jesus-Maria Moreno-Ramirez were arrested by Border Force officers at Terminal 1 on September 19 after flying in from the Dominican Republic, via Frankfurt.

Checks were carried out on their luggage and when two suitcases were emptied out they were found to be unusually heavy.

The cases were x-rayed revealing both had false bottoms and packages of white powder were found concealed within the hidden compartments.

Around three kilos of the drug was seized, believed to have a street value of €372,249.

The brothers aged 44 and 40 and originally from the La Rioja region of Spain, both pleaded guilty to importing a class A drug and were sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison each by a judge at Isleworth Crown Court on December 6.

Assistant Director Peter Avery, of Border Force, said: “This was a significant quantity of drugs with a potential to do a lot of damage and the sentences handed down here reflect that.

“Drug trafficking is a serious offence and this case should serve as a warning to others.

“Border Force officers are on constant alert to prevent dangerous drugs like cocaine making it to our streets.”