A man was apprehended at Manchester Airport for smuggling cocaine valued at nearly £900,000 concealed in a mobility scooter. The individual, Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, 56, arrived on a flight from Barbados and was found with a significant quantity of drugs in the scooter, despite not requiring mobility assistance. De Lemos-Francisco, originally from Guimaraes, Portugal, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
According to his defense attorney, Rachel Shenton, De Lemos-Francisco had developed a strong attachment to a woman he met on Facebook, who was likely fictitious. Believing he was assisting her in accessing an inheritance, he unknowingly participated in the drug smuggling scheme. However, Shenton emphasized that despite his naivety, De Lemos-Francisco acknowledged his actions and accepted responsibility for the crime.
Prosecutor Mark Monaghan revealed that Border Force officers discovered cocaine hidden in the scooter’s seat during a routine inspection. The drugs, weighing 12.8 kilograms with a purity of 84%, were valued at £198,000 wholesale and up to £880,000 on the streets. Additionally, a tracking device was found within the scooter, indicating a coordinated smuggling operation.
During the sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean KC expressed skepticism about De Lemos-Francisco’s innocence and highlighted the sophistication of the operation. De Lemos-Francisco, who admitted involvement in the drug importation, was informed that he might face deportation to Portugal in the future.
Following the proceedings, Charles Lee of the National Crime Agency condemned the use of deception in drug smuggling activities, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to combating such criminal endeavors.
