A photographer from Forest Hill and a pilot from Cheshunt have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 30 kilograms of cocaine worth millions of pounds into the UK using a light aircraft.
Errol McCardo Weir, 48, and Anastasios Balian, 52, were stopped by Border Force officers at North Weald Airfield in Epping after flying in from Belgium via Calais. During a search of the aircraft, authorities discovered £2.4 million worth of cocaine blocks concealed within the rear seats.
Weir, of Shifford Path, Forest Hill, and Balian, of Milton Court, Cheshunt, had coordinated the smuggling attempt through WhatsApp messages. Among their digital communications was a link to a news article titled ‘Gang use small aircraft to drop cocaine into Dorset’—ironically foreshadowing their own capture.
Guilty Pleas and Sentencing
Weir admitted smuggling the Class A drugs at Chelmsford Crown Court last month. Balian followed by pleading guilty on Friday, 16 May. A sentencing date for both men is yet to be confirmed.
Balian, a licensed pilot who runs an aerial survey company, abused his position of trust and aviation knowledge to assist the trafficking operation. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described their actions as part of a wider organised crime network.
Cocaine Hidden in Aircraft Seat Compartments
Investigators uncovered the stash hidden in specially adapted compartments in the aircraft’s rear seats, as shown in photos released by the National Crime Agency (NCA). The cocaine was packaged in compressed, heat-sealed blocks, which experts say is typical of high-level trafficking syndicates.
Authorities Respond: “This Was an Audacious Plan”
Paul Orchard, NCA operations manager, said:
“Anastasios Balian used his expertise and apparent legitimacy to enable this attempted importation of Class A drugs. These substances destroy lives. The organised crime groups that traffic them don’t care about that, they only care about money. Balian and Weir were part of that crime group.”
Penina Giffen, from the Crown Prosecution Service, added:
“This was an audacious operation in which cocaine was carefully concealed in a light aircraft bound for Essex.
The damning digital evidence and overwhelming physical proof left the defendants little option but to plead guilty.”
Giffen praised the joint efforts of Border Force, the NCA, and CPS, calling their collaboration key in dismantling the trafficking plot.
Why It Matters
This case illustrates how organised crime groups exploit aviation loopholes to smuggle drugs into the UK. The professionalism of agencies like the NCA and Border Force was critical in intercepting the operation and protecting communities from the harm caused by Class A drugs.
Have information about drug trafficking or suspicious aircraft activity? Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the National Crime Agency website for guidance.
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