Lorry driver convicted of £19 million cocaine importation

A Belgian national who drove a lorry containing more than £19 million worth of cocaine into the UK has been convicted.

Rudi Claes, 62, travelled from Steenokkerzeel, Belgium in June 2023 when he stopped at Toddington Services, off the M1 in Bedfordshire.

A car driven by Ahmed Omar, 28, of Newcomen Road, London, was seen to pull up next to the lorry, before Claes removed two boxes from the trailer and loaded them into the vehicle.

Both men were arrested after investigators from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) attended the scene and searched the trailer, finding 156kg of cocaine stowed amongst a legitimate delivery of empty pharmaceutical insulation boxes used to transport medical samples.

Omar’s car was also searched and found to contain a further 36kg of cocaine in pressed kilogramme blocks.

Further enquiries by ERSOU’s detectives established that Claes and Omar were trusted members of an international organised crime group and the blocks of cocaine - some of which were stamped with a ‘Nike tick’ - were destined for onward supply within the UK.

The total potential street value of the drugs was determined by a police drugs expert to be £19,200,000.

Yesterday (Tuesday) at Luton Crown Court, Claes, of Kliene-Brogel, Belgium, was found guilty of importing 192kg cocaine and supplying 36kg cocaine.

He will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on 14 June.

Omar previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector Dean Trollope, from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), said: “Claes and Omar were responsible for the onwards distribution of a colossal amount of cocaine within the UK.

“The work of our investigators has ensured that the drugs will not end up in the communities of the eastern region and beyond.

“ERSOU will continue to target and apprehend those who are involved in serious and organised crime and in the fight against class A drug supply.”