£20k cannabis smuggler jailed

An unemployed carpenter from Dublin who tried to smuggle over two kilos of cannabis worth £20,000 (€23,696) into the North in his luggage has been jailed for six months today.

Christopher Noel Byrne (aged 24) was arrested by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers as he arrived at Belfast International Airport from Amsterdam in December last year.

John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, HMRC said: “Violence and corruption follows the illegal drug trade and any illegal drug, regardless of the quantities involved, has the potential to inflict serious and damaging harm on all our communities.

“By working closely with other law enforcement agencies such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UK Border Agency we aim to protect the public from the effects caused by drugs and we would encourage anyone with information about this type of activity to contact us on 0800 59 5000.”