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R44 drug smuggling gang jailed

Quote:

Members of a cocaine smuggling gang have been sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison after a helicopter was used to transport the drug into the UK from France.

The helicopter had hidden trapdoors under the seats to store drugs. A smuggler would fly the drugs into Lydd Airport in Kent from Calais and drop them off at two hotels nearby. The drugs would then be unpacked and transported onwards by car in hidden compartments to be sold across the country.

Ringleader Frederic Fagnoul, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to importing and supplying drugs. Two other men admitted conspiracy to supply the drugs onward in the UK in a supply chain which is believed to have been gone on for at least three months. He was sentenced to 17 years and six months’ imprisonment today.

Fagnoul, a Belgian national, rented a helicopter and pilot to bring the cocaine into the country via the hotels he was staying.

https://i.imgur.com/F1ntys8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IGhvMad.jpg

I/C

How were they found out I wonder?

Must have been a grass........get it....grass....drugs...marijiwana:ugh:

I wouldn't have though you could get enough drugs into an R44 to do 17 years.

Dangerous trip . For the drugs I mean ..!!

Where the blades confiscated to ensure evidence stayed where it was? :suspect:

Quote:

The helicopter had hidden trapdoors under the seats to store drugs.

Frank Robinson really thought about everything, didn't he! :D

Looks like the standard under-seat storage area to me. A little messy, perhaps.

Something to remember when you read these stories about drug busts, seizures, etc. They only catch the dumb ones.

how did they catch these guys?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas coupling (Post 10128715)

how did they catch these guys?

Having exited the Robinson they looked far too relaxed so authorities suspected they must be on something. :}

Not sure what is more dangerous the drugs or the R44!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas coupling (Post 10127801)

How were they found out I wonder?

- Boots on the ground (intel from within the organisations);
- An R44 crossing the Channel without floats? Quite fishy...

Can't help but add to the fun

Some would say you would need to be on drugs to fly a Robb. Haha

“Boots on the ground”

I already thought so.
I dont think a Robbie has the endurance to loiter around waiting till NPAS would have picked up the white dust trail?

Cheers SLB

Boots on the ground - pull the other one pal! Not enough boots anywhere.
NPAS - even funnier - do they still exist?

My guess is some inside info.

Of course you can't have a thread about a Robby without the cliched pot shots from the "internet experts"!

Personally, considering the value of the cargo, I'd consider it a compliment if drug smugglers were using my aircraft!

Butters, it was obviously a cost-sensitive cargo else they'd have hired something else.
If the cargo was truly valuable they'd have corrupted a twin aircraft, then again those guys earn far too much and that would ruin the street price :E