Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • News >
  • Driver who hid £4m worth of cocaine in his bed jailed for 14 and a half years

Share this page:

Share this page:

News

Driver who hid £4m worth of cocaine in his bed jailed for 14 and a half years

  • Drug trafficking

A lorry driver has been jailed for 14 and a half years after trying to smuggle 50kg of cocaine worth £4m by hiding it in his bed.

Karol Niewiadomski (30), from Poland, was arrested during a National Crime Agency investigation after his lorry was searched on arrival to Dover on 7 January this year.

Karol

The lorry, meant to contain vintage clothing destined for a business park in Nottingham, was searched by Border Force officers who found 50 kilos of cocaine in cardboard boxes within the sleeping area of Niewiadomski’s cab.

A quantity of amphetamine was also found within a first aid box.

National Crime Agency officers estimated the cocaine would have been worth up to £4m at street level due to its high purity.

Niewiadomski claimed he did not know the drugs were on the vehicle and had left the lorry unlocked whilst travelling by ferry from the Netherlands.

He denied a charge of importation of cocaine and importation of amphetamine, but was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday (10 September).

Niewiadomski was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years in prison.

NCA Branch Commander Mark Howes said:

“If Niewiadomski had been successful, bringing £4m worth of cocaine onto the streets of the UK would have caused misery in our communities.

“Drug smugglers like Niewiadomski aid organised crime groups, with the profits from these drugs going on to fuel further criminality.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners to disrupt the supply of drugs and bring those responsible to justice.”

David Smith, Director, Border Force South East said:

“This seizure is an excellent example of the crucial work Border Force does every day to prevent illegal drugs entering the UK.

“I am delighted with the efforts of our officers at Dover as preventing the supply of drugs is a vital step in disrupting organised criminal gangs.”

13 September 2021

Latest from twitter

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright