Drug courier who tried to smuggle £400,000 of cocaine claimed suitcases were full of presents

A drug courier who arrived at a Scottish airport claiming he was bearing gifts from a business trip to South America has been jailed for five years after he was caught with £400,000 worth of cocaine.

Jamel Daouadi, 65, was intercepted by Border Force officers at Edinburgh airport after they watched him collect a suitcase which was found to contain four kilos of the Class A drug.

The French citizen had denied being concerned in the supply of cocaine in October 2024 but was earlier unanimously found guilty of the drugs offence by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Daouadi claimed that he travelled to Brazil on business on a trip that was funded by individuals linked to the United Nations and was asked to come back with gifts, which were in the suitcase given to him on the way to the airport in São Paulo, in the South American country.

A judge told him: “You stated that taking gifts back after a business negotiation was something that you did not find unusual.”

Daouadi said that he was involved in a potential multi-million dollar deal in Brazil before being asked to return to Europe with presents. He said he had travelled on to Edinburgh via Zurich to receive a payment in account of funds due to him from the business venture.

When the suitcase was opened, Border Force officers found packets of hair extensions placed on top of a blanket, underneath which were packages of cocaine wrapped in embroidered material.

Lady Haldane said: “By their verdict, the jury rejected your explanation and were satisfied that you were knowingly concerned in the supply of cocaine.”

She said: “You appear to have led an essentially stable, pro-social life up until now, pursuing higher education, working, marrying and having a family.”

“At 64 years old, your age when arrested, you were approaching and looking forward to retirement,” she said.

Lord Haldane told him: “I take account of your lack of previous convictions, your age, your health issues and the fact that this was an offence that took place, in effect, on one occasion.”

But the judge told him that it was her duty to reflect the verdict of the jury and said: “In so doing, I consider I have no alternative but to impose a substantial sentence of imprisonment.”

“The court has repeatedly emphasised the misery caused by those who become concerned in the supplying, particularly of Class A drugs in such large quantities,” she said.

Lady Haldane said it was a crime with multiple victims and with far-reaching consequences for society.

Defence counsel Kenneth Cloggie told the court that Daouadi continued to maintain that he was innocent of the crime. He said Daouadi was a man with a good work record who was assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending.