A man from the north of England was sentenced to nine years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, 25 January, after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle approximately four kilos of heroin into the UK.

UK Border Agency officers stopped and questioned German national Alfred Poldrack from North Shields on 12 August 2011 at the Channel Tunnel entrance in Coquelles, France.

During the search of the British-registered BMW he was driving officers found eight packages hidden in the car’s dashboard to the right of the steering wheel.

The packages contained a total of four kilos of heroin with a potential street value of up to £276,000.

Poldrack was charged with the attempted importation, and was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on 25 January before being jailed the same day.

Malcolm Bragg, the UK Border Agency’s Criminal and Financial Investigation Assistant Director, said: "This is a strong warning to anyone who believes drug smuggling is acceptable.

"Clearly, the view of the courts is that it is a very serious matter and UK Border Agency officers will remain vigilant at all our ports and airports to prevent drugs reaching our streets.

"Heroin use destroys not only the lives of individual users, but also their families and the wider community.”

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2012