The man tried to smuggle £64,000 worth of drugs inside a workbench which was hidden behind tyres in the back of his van
A man who tried to smuggle cannabis into Northern Ireland hidden inside a work bench in the back of his van has been convicted following a National Crime Agency investigation.
William Stewart, 46, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Belfast Laganside Court on Wednesday November 5, after first pleading guilty in September to possession of a class B controlled drug with intent to supply.
The man who was living in Crumlin, travelled from Aldershot to Belfast in October 2024 by ferry, in his transit van. Upon Stewart’s arrival in Belfast, he was stopped by Border Force officers and a search of his vehicle was conducted using a sniffer dog.
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A makeshift workbench in the rear of the van was located behind a stack of tyres. When the bench was unscrewed, 16 vacuum packed packages weighing 18 kilos were found containing cannabis worth £64,000 — Stewart denied being given anything to transport.
David Cunningham, NCA Belfast Branch Commander, said: “Stewart made every effort to avoid detection, concealing the drugs behind a stack of tyres and within a custom-made work bench.
“These drugs would have ended up on the streets of Northern Ireland and their profits would have been used for further criminality.
“Working with our partners in Border Force, the NCA is committed to pursuing those who are determined to smuggle illegal drugs into the UK.”
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