A man who is a father to nine children claimed he was set up after being apprehended by law enforcement officers with over one-and-a-half kilograms of cocaine upon agreeing to deliver a package, a court was informed.
Luke Campbell, a former member of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards who had served in Afghanistan, received £250 to transport the parcel from Swansea to Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire on August 8 this year. Campbell, a 34-year-old delivery driver for DPD, had encountered the recipient of the parcel through his job, but the interception took place at the Pont Abraham motorway services.
According to details presented at Swansea Crown Court, Dyfed-Powys Police acted on intelligence about a Mercedes Sprinter van heading west on the M4 from Swansea. The vehicle was stopped around 3:50 pm that day, and a search led to the discovery of a Lidl shopping bag containing white powder blocks underneath the front passenger seat.
The court heard that Campbell, who was alone in the van, was arrested, and his iPhone was confiscated from the dashboard. Despite being asked, he did not disclose the phone’s pin code.
During the transit to a police station in Llanelli, Campbell was overheard saying, “I’ve been stitched up,” as per the prosecution presented by Dean Pulling. Additionally, a set of digital scales with traces of white powder was found in a bedroom wardrobe at Campbell’s residence.
A forensic examination of the bag’s contents revealed a package labeled “Elite” containing a kilo of cocaine with 84% purity, a half-kilo block with 68% purity, and a 123g block with 65% purity. The wholesale value of the drugs was estimated at around £33,000, with a potential street value of up to £187,700.
During police questioning, Campbell admitted to agreeing to act as a courier for an acquaintance from DPD. He mentioned being paid £250 to collect a package in Ravenhill, Swansea, post-work, from an individual in a BMW. Campbell conceded he was aware the bag contained either money or drugs, as he knew the individual was involved in drug dealing. He also stated that the digital scales found in his house were used by him and his girlfriend to portion drugs bought for music festivals.
Campbell, residing on Carmarthen Road in Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to cocaine possession with intent to supply. The court was informed that he had no prior convictions but had received police cautions for common assault and battery.
In his defense, Matt Murphy highlighted Campbell’s clean record but pointed out the detrimental impact of his military experiences on his mental health. The defense lawyer mentioned that financial troubles led Campbell astray, causing him to associate with the wrong individuals.
Judge Geraint Walters acknowledged that Campbell had followed instructions from others and had been entrusted with a valuable cargo. Consequently, Campbell received a 32-month prison sentence.