Couple charged with cocaine smuggling

An Irish couple were today charged with smuggling drugs through Gatwick Airport.

A man and a woman were due to appear at Crawley Magistrates Court, West Sussex this morning after Customs officers at Gatwick Airport seized about 5 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of about €438,000.

Construction worker David John O’Toole, 34, of Acorn Lodge, Clonard, Enfield, Co. Meath and Catriona O’Keeffe, 25, a cleaner of 27 Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, were stopped by officers at Gatwick’s North Terminal yesterday morning.

They had arrived on a British Airways flight from St Lucia and were en route to Dublin.

During a customs search the drugs were discovered in baggage.

Mr O’Toole and Ms O’Keeffe were subsequently arrested, interviewed and charged with smuggling cocaine into the UK.

Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs Gatwick spokesman said: “Customs vigilance has prevented this cocaine from reaching its destination.

“We will continue to work to the (British) government’s aim of reducing the availability of Class A drugs.”