Crime Correspondent: Belfast

Adam Ruczaj (27) and Tomasz Ciulwik (28) from Poland were intercepted on their arrival at Belfast on a flight from Amsterdam.

Adam Ruczaj (27) and Tomasz Ciulwik (28) from Poland were intercepted on their arrival at Belfast on a flight from Amsterdam. The men were charged with attempting to smuggle the illegal drugs into the UK and appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where they were remanded in custody to re-appear at Antrim Magistrates Court on September 9. This is just the latest seizure of the drug at the airport in recent months. Earlier this summer a woman was rushed to hospital after suspected cocaine crammed into condoms apparently burst inside her stomach. Our commitment is to do everything we can to stop this deadly trade In January of this year around 750g of the drug was seized by customs officers at the airport. <br />And in June 2006 around 13.5kg of cocaine, worth an estimated £3m, was discovered at the airport. It remains Northern Ireland’s biggest ever haul of the drug. “Drug smuggling is a very serious offence that has a significant and damaging effect on all our communities, and multi-agency co-operation plays a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK,” said John Whiting, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation with HM Revenue & Customs. <br />Maggie Eyden, Lead Official for UKBA in Northern Ireland, said: "UKBA, working in partnership with HMRC, are at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK. Our commitment is to do everything we can to stop this deadly trade, to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and protect our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompanies the trade in illegal drugs.” <br />The street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be £80,000 to £100,000 depending upon purity.

Adam Ruczaj (27) and Tomasz Ciulwik (28) from Poland were intercepted on their arrival at Belfast on a flight from Amsterdam.

Adam Ruczaj (27) and Tomasz Ciulwik (28) from Poland were intercepted on their arrival at Belfast on a flight from Amsterdam. The men were c...

Joseph Offerbuike a 10-year sentence, with the final three years suspended, and further bound him to keep the peace for a further five years.

Joseph Offerbuike a 10-year sentence, with the final three years suspended, and further bound him to keep the peace for a further five years.

Joseph Offerbuike, with an address in Amsterdam, told Gardai he had agreed to smuggle the drugs to get €2,500 for his mother's funeral. ...