Man from Acton Arrested for Smuggling Cocaine
Drugs hidden in banana boxes imported from the Dominican Republic
The banana boxes in which the drugs were found. Picture: Met Police
January 31, 2024
A man from Acton will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court this Wednesday (31 January) charged with the importation of cocaine.
30-year-old Nathanael Colado-Jiminez of Western Avenue will appear in custody along with 37-year-old Jose Manuel Perez De La Cruz of Beckway and 34-year-old Ronny Sierra Guerrero of no fixed address.
The trio were arrested at an address in Acton following the discovery by UK Border Force officers at Portsmouth on Saturday 20 and Friday 26 January of two shipments of bananas from the Dominican Republic with cocaine hidden inside the cardboard packaging. The street value of the drugs is estimated to be £10 million.
The Met says its Specialist Crime officers worked round the clock to gather further evidence which led them to identifying the address in Acton and obtaining a warrant to search.
A wrap of cocaine discovered in the packaging. Picture: Met Police
Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson, whose team is leading the investigation, said, “Officers continue to crack down on the crimes that impact Londoners the most. We know drugs blight communities by contributing to anti-social behaviour, violence and cause devastating addiction issues. The Met will continue to target those who illegally import drugs to London.
“Working closely with UK Border Force has been integral in acting so quickly and arresting those suspected of these offences.
“I have no doubt these drugs were intended to be sold across London and beyond. By working together we can dismantle large-scale drug networks who profiteer from vulnerable people and cause misery.”
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