Heathrow security guard Farhan Iqbal has been jailed over a cocaine smuggling plot
A Heathrow airport security officer has been jailed after helping a Colombian smuggle 10 kilos of cocaine into the UK to fund his gambling addiction.
Farhan Iqbal was handed a 13-year sentence after turning up to work in his uniform on a sick day to take part in the drugs trafficking plot.
Judge Jane Sullivan told him: ‘You were the linchpin of this whole conspiracy, it could not have happened without you.
‘I also found that you were expecting substantial amounts of money, far higher than your salary, to fund your gambling addiction.
‘You used your job at Heathrow as a cover and betrayed your employers.’
Two other men, courier Camilo Suarez and Wilmer Salazar-Duarte, were jailed for five years, three months and seven years, six months respectively.
Alexander Salazar-Duarte, 46, the older brother of Wilmer, is believed to have been the ring leader and his due to be sentenced later.
CCTV footage showed Iqbal arriving at work in his uniform despite having called in sick
Around 10kg of cocaine was brought into the country, worth an estimated £1.2million
Blackfriars Crown Court heard the total street value of the drugs brought into the country was more than £1.2 million.
Iqbal arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3 on 23 November 2017 dressed in his uniform despite being on sick leave.
He made his way to the toilets in Terminal 5 where he met with Suarez and handed him a Wilkinson Sword razor blade to cut the drugs out of the luggage bag.
Officers from the National Crime Agency then arrested Iqbal with the cocaine.
When police raided Iqbal’s flat in Ealing they found evidence of a previous successful importation of cocaine from September of that year.
National Crime Agency senior investigating officer Mark Abbott said: ‘Iqbal played a crucial role in the organised crime group and used his insider knowledge and privileged access to the airport to enable the drugs transfer.
‘It was a real betrayal of his colleagues and employer and this type of corruption really threatens the security of the UK border and public which is why we see it as a priority’
Wilmer Salazar-Duarte and courier Camilo Suarez were both jailed over the plot
Wilmer Salazar-Duarte, who took part under orders from his brother, got seven and a half years
Iqbal had worked at Heathrow as a security officer since February 2008, earning around £31,000 a year.
He was also served with a serious crime prevention order that bans him from working at a port for five years after his release date.
Iqbal, Ealing, west London, denied conspiracy to import cocaine but was convicted by a jury.
Wilmer and Alexander Salazar-Duarte, both of Wanstead, east London both admitted cospiracy to import cocaine.
Camilo Suarez, of Bogata, Columbia, admitted importing cocaine.