A MAN has who attempted to smuggle more than half-a-million pounds' worth of cannabis into Northern Ireland from Holland has been jailed.
Sergei Bacaianov initially denied any knowledge of the drugs, which had been hidden in a trailer containing fresh chicken.
However, he later pleaded guilty to drugs importation, with the £620,000 worth of cannabis believed to be destined for Northern Ireland and the Republic.
"Sergei Bacaianov was not only aware of the illegal load he was smuggling, but involved in loading the drugs into a sophisticated hide beneath the floor of his trailer to avoid detection at the border," said National Crime Agency (NCA) Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham.
DNA evidence
Bacaianov, 42, residing in Blanchardstown, Dublin, was travelling by ferry from the Netherlands to Killingholme port in Lincolnshire on May 4 last year, carrying a load of fresh chicken in his trailer.
Acting on behalf of the NCA, Border Force officers stopped Bacaianov at the port.
The 31kg of cannabis was valued at £620,000 (Image: NCA)A search of his trailer found new welding and paintwork, indicating efforts had been made to conceal two underfloor compartments.
Each compartment contained three sliding drawers, each with five metal trays filled with 31kg of cannabis with a street value of £620,000.
Bacaianov denied any knowledge of the drugs when questioned by NCA officers and insisted he was collecting and delivering legitimate loads.
Bacaianov will be deported at the end of his sentence (Image: NCA)However, investigators found DNA evidence suggesting he both knew about and had helped to load the drugs.
He pleaded guilty to drugs importation at Grimsby Crown Court on September 25, telling the court he had some knowledge of the drugs but not the scale of the operation.
At the same court today, he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and will be deported at the end of his sentence.
'Criminal hauliers'
"We believe these drugs would have been destined for onward travel to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland where they would have been sold on the streets, the profits from which would have been used to commit further serious and organised crime," added Mr Cunningham.
"The NCA works closely with partners both in the UK and overseas to disrupt criminal hauliers who use their legitimate loads, often foodstuffs, to transport their illegal commodities into the UK.
"The message to those who choose to get involved in this type of criminality is simple — the NCA and our partner enforcement agencies will use every available tactic to identify you, seize your vehicles and bring you to justice."
