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Jun 17th, 2016
Smugglers hid cocaine in golf clubs
Police seize £3 million of coke
Words: John Dean
Two drug smugglers were facing jail today after posing as golfers to bring in millions of pounds worth of cocaine hidden in the shafts of their clubs.
Tony Bayne, 52, and Taher Najmzadeh, 53, were recruited to fly overseas with golf bags as part of their luggage. The duo were paid in cash and holidays for smuggling the drugs between July 2012 and May 2014.
Snaresbrook crown court was told that police seized more than £3 million worth of cocaine.
The drug mules travelled with their golf equipment and took photographs of themselves holding their clubs as part of their cover.
Ahead of sentencing today, Judge Neil Sanders warned: “They are obviously facing substantial custodial sentences.”
Prosecutor Catherine Pattison had told jurors: “The method deployed to use golf bags was rather ingenious because to an unsuspecting eye at customs or border control somebody ferrying a golf bag in or out would not cause any suspicion.”
Customs officers seized about 17kg of cocaine with a street value of £3.3 million hidden in golf club shafts.
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