An Irlam man has been jailed for thirteen years after £4.2 million worth of high purity cocaine was found by Border Force police hidden in a piano
Francesco Role was stopped in his van by Border Force officials at Newhaven Port, East Sussex. He was returning from Normandy.
At first glance, everything appeared normal for your average man with a van offering removal services. There was a bed, two chairs, a cupboard unit, and several cardboard boxes. However, further examination revealed a piano hidden under a blanket.
Authorities noticed it was heavy – even for a piano, and it was clear that it had been tampered with.
Opening the piano, police found 89 wrapped blocks of high purity cocaine, estimated to be worth around £4.2 million.
An investigation was launched, and it soon became clear that Role was using a variety of fake delivery addresses across the UK. He initially tried to claim that he was a legitimate businessman. However, when faced with the evidence, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and the fraudulent evasion of the provision of the importation of class A drugs.
Today, Francesco Role aged 45 of Dean Road, Irlam, has been jailed for 13 years and six months.
Detective Inspector James Coles from GMP Serious Organised Crime Group said: “We know that criminals are adapting their methods to evade law enforcement, which is why it is imperative that we continue to use all resources available to evolve with them and stay one step ahead.
“Had Role been successful in bringing £4 million worth of cocaine into the UK it would have had devastating effects to our communities. His arrest and long custodial sentence will undoubtedly disrupt the drugs trade and local dealers who were reliant on his shipments.
“Working with Border Force and partners across the UK and abroad, we are targeting drug traffickers, and this should be a stark warning to others who attempt to bring drugs into the UK.”
