A court heard that a man was apprehended for attempting to smuggle nearly £900,000 worth of cocaine concealed in a mobility scooter through a UK airport. The individual, identified as Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, 56, was intercepted at Manchester Airport upon his arrival from Barbados. Despite having no mobility issues, De Lemos-Francisco used the scooter as a ploy to transport the illegal drugs into the country.
Following his arrest, De Lemos-Francisco has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison. His defense attorney, Rachel Shenton, explained that his involvement stemmed from a convoluted backstory. She revealed that De Lemos-Francisco, hailing from Guimaraes in Portugal, had developed a strong attachment to a woman he met on Facebook, who was likely fictitious. Believing they were romantically linked, he was under the impression that he was aiding her in claiming an inheritance.
Despite his attorney’s statements, it was emphasized that De Lemos-Francisco was aware of his actions and bore responsibility for his deeds. Prosecutors highlighted that prior to this incident, he had been incarcerated in Portugal and was facing substantial financial obligations. The discovery of cocaine in the scooter led to a thorough investigation, revealing 11 packages of the illicit substance weighing a total of 12.8 kilograms.
Notably, a tracking device was found within the scooter’s battery compartment, indicating a degree of sophistication in the smuggling operation. Judge Nicholas Dean KC expressed skepticism regarding any innocent intentions behind the act. De Lemos-Francisco, who admitted to involvement in the illegal importation of drugs, is likely to face deportation back to Portugal in the future.
In response to the case, Charles Lee of the National Crime Agency condemned the use of deception by criminal organizations in drug trafficking schemes. He underscored the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat such activities and safeguard the public from the threats posed by Class A drugs.