Crime Correspondent: Heathrow Airport

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, in September. He had been backpacking in South America before heading back to the UK.Shawcross, of Lower House Lane, Norris Green, was interviewed by officers from HM Revenue and Customs as investigators carried out tests on his rucksack and sleeping bag.Isleworth crown court heard the drugs had been washed with a liquid which was then impregnated into the lining of the bags.The 4kgs of 100% proof cocaine would be worth nearly £900,000 on the streets, HMRC said.On September 5, Shawcross pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle the drugs and he was sentenced to eight years behind bars, with a travel restriction order for three years after his release.Peter Avery, Assistant Director of HMRC Criminal Investigations, said: "We will continue to work closely with our UK Border Agency colleagues to detect and seize drugs smuggled into the UK and prosecute those involved."

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Braz...

Martin Stephen Patience

Martin Stephen Patience, of Oldstead, Crown Woood, admitted trying to smuggle 7.35kgs of cocaine when he was stopped by customs officers at ...

Elisa Vazquez Sanchez sentenced to 9 1/2 years

Elisa Vazquez Sanchez was accompanied by a 13-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl when she was stopped at London's Heathrow Airport on ...

Robert Bennett jailed for 10 years for smuggling £400,000 worth of cocaine into Heathrow Airport from Argentina.

Robert Bennett, from Dart Close in Finchampstead, admitted one count of custom evasion at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday.30-year-old man ha...

Amy Fox

Amy Fox was jailed for five years after being found with 1.27 kilos of cocaine at Heathrow Airport. The 20-year-old was recruited by an Edinburgh drugs gang to bring the coke - worth £72,000 - from Gambia in west Africa. The former North Berwick High School pupil was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court after admitting smuggling the drugs. Neighbours say that Amy is a bright young woman from a respectable family who fell into the wrong company. Friends say that her spiral from fun-loving schoolgirl to international drugs mule began when she became friends with a youth from a local criminal family. The 19-year-old is serving two years in jail for an axe attack in September inside Haddington Sheriff Court. Amy started dabbling in drugs when they met around four years ago. A friend said: "It's a tragedy. Amy is an intelligent and funny girl from a nice family. "But she met a bad bunch of people and started dabbling in drugs and got involved in the drugs scene in Edinburgh. "She was a bit naive and vulnerable at the time and got caught up in something she shouldn't have. It's tragic she has been sent to prison but I guess it's a lesson to others." Another friend said: "Amy was duped by these really evil people and used to bring drugs back to Britain. This family were the start of Amy's ruin. "They've made life hell for everyone in North Berwick and are despised." Amy was promised £5000 to take the drugs into the UK from Gambia, a popular winter sunshine holiday resort.

Amy Fox

Amy Fox was jailed for five years after being found with 1.27 kilos of cocaine at Heathrow Airport. The 20-year-old was recruited by an Edin...