Two drug smugglers, Daniel Kelly, 43, and Steven Gilhooly, 43, both with no fixed address, have been sentenced to a combined 15 years behind bars for attempting to smuggle Class A drugs into the UK.
The pair concealed nearly 3kg of cocaine inside cans disguised as tinned goods. However, police intercepted the drugs before they could reach the streets.
The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, 12 January, following a joint investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Kelly pleaded guilty on 4 January, while Gilhooly was found guilty by a jury a week later.
The court heard that two parcels were sent from St Lucia in December 2018, purportedly containing tinned coconut milk and beans. Customs officers discovered 1.95kg of cocaine in one parcel and 792g in the other, all hidden in plain sight.
Kelly and Gilhooly flew from London Gatwick to St Lucia on 16 December 2018, carrying a can-sealing machine in their luggage. They claimed the trip was for holiday purposes. They purchased condiments and empty tins to reseal after stuffing the cocaine inside.
Kelly sent the parcels from a St Lucian post office using a fake driving licence bearing his photo but false details. The NCA collaborated with St Lucian authorities through an International Letter of Request to collect key evidence. The Met’s Trident Team was already investigating the pair for separate offences, which led to the joint operation.
Kelly was arrested from prison in January 2020, where he was already serving time for another crime, and Gilhooly was apprehended the following month. They were charged in April 2021. The estimated street value of the cocaine was £250,000.
Detective Inspector Matthew Webb said: “This sentencing shows our commitment to tackling serious crime. Thanks to Detective Constable Phil Price, the NCA, Border Force and St Lucian authorities. This sends a clear message: we will leave no stone unturned to stop drug importation.”
“Both men went to St Lucia to bring Class A drugs back to the UK. The damage drugs cause to communities is linked to violence. These offenders thought they were clever but now face heavy jail time. Crime doesn’t pay.”
NCA Branch Commander Mark McCormack added: “We’re fighting international organised crime networks smuggling Class A drugs. These men tried to exploit fast parcel systems but were stopped by cooperation between the NCA, Border Force and the Met. We won’t let criminals profit from drugs on our streets.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
