Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Tuesday 1st April 2025, at 19:00hrs
A 56-year-old man has been charged with drug smuggling after nearly £1 million worth of cocaine was discovered concealed within an electric wheelchair at Manchester Airport.
Casimiro De Lemos Francisco, a Portuguese national, was apprehended on Sunday, April 28th, following his arrival on a flight from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Border Force officers conducted a routine scan of the electric wheelchair, which revealed 11 packages of cocaine, weighing approximately 12 kilograms, hidden in the seat and backrest.
The substantial quantity of the Class A drug has an estimated street value approaching £1 million.
Following the discovery, the National Crime Agency (NCA) launched an investigation.
De Lemos Francisco appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court today, where he was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 6th.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Charles Lee commented on the sophisticated concealment method employed by the drug smugglers.
“The concealment shows the ingenuity crime groups employ to smuggle cocaine,” Lee stated. “The NCA works with partners at home and abroad to combat the threat of Class A drugs and protect the UK public.”
The incident highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to intercept illicit drug trafficking and disrupt organized criminal networks attempting to import narcotics into the United Kingdom.
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