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Cocaine worth £1m hidden in electric wheelchair

Jonny Humphries
BBC News, Manchester
NCA Six brown packages wrapped in masking tape are visible in the seat of a wheelchair which has had the foam padding cut away. A Border Force officer's hand, wearing a blue glove, is visible on the chair. NCA
Border Force officers scanned the chair and found 11 packages stashed in the seats and backrest

Cocaine with a street value of almost £1m was found stashed in an electric wheelchair at Manchester Airport after a flight from Barbados.

Border Force officers scanned the wheelchair and found it contained 11 packages, weighing 12kg (26.4lbs) on Sunday 30 March.

Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos Francisco, 56, has been charged with drug trafficking and was remanded in custody after a hearing at Salford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) released pictures of brown packages, wrapped in masking tape, hidden in the seat and backrest of the chair.

NCA An electric wheelchair with light grey leather seats, black armrests and a blue base with small wheels at Manchester Airport. NCA
The wheelchair was scanned at Manchester Airport

NCA senior investigating officer Charles Lee said: "The concealment shows the ingenuity crime groups employ to smuggle cocaine."

Mr De Lemos Francisco is next due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 6 May.

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