Lithuanian lorry driver had £1million worth of cocaine hidden in consignment of beer

A LITHUANIAN lorry driver caught smuggling more than £1million of cocaine into the UK claimed he thought he was bringing in dodgy tobacco.

Arunas Cirplys, 53, (pictured above) from Kaunas, in Lithuania, was stopped by Border Force officers at the Port of Dover on August 21 as he attempted to pass through.

He had travelled from Germany, and was heading to an address in the UK, with a delivery load of beer.

He became the subject of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation after packages containing cocaine were found in the vehicle he was driving.

An NCA spokesman said: "When officers searched the vehicle, they found three packages wrapped in socks, each weighing a kilogram, hidden beneath the mattress of the bunk compartment. A further seven packages were found in the overhead locker.

"Cirplys admitted to NCA officers that he had hidden the packages but believed them to contain tobacco. He told officers that they had been given to him in a parking area near the Dutch/Belgian border.

"He was subsequently charged with attempting to import Class A drugs and remanded in custody until the sentencing."

SEIZED: Above cocaine found hidden in the lorry (NCA)

The drugs, which weighed 10kg in total, would be worth approximately £1,010,000 if sold on the streets of the UK.

NCA Dover Branch Commander Martin Grace said: “This individual thought he could transport illicit drugs into the UK under the pretence of delivering goods.

“Illegal drugs are the cause of crime, violence and discontent in communities.

“Through our work with partners, we are determined to disrupt those organised criminals behind the trade and make sure justice is served.”

Minister for Immigration Compliance and Courts Chris Philip said: “This was superb work by Border Force officers, whose actions prevented a dangerous cargo of drugs from reaching the UK’s streets.

“Class A drugs like cocaine shatter communities and we will continue to work with law enforcement partners like the NCA to ensure smugglers face justice.”

Cirplys pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing on 21 September.

At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday (October 2) he was jailed for six years and nine months.