Heathrow security man held in airport toilet drug sting

Police have arrested a Heathrow Airport security guard on suspicion of helping a member of a Colombian drugs cartel to smuggle £700,000 of cocaine into Britain. 

The 30-year-old from Southall, west London was arrested in a toilet on the airside of Terminal Five along with a 37-year-old man from Colombia.

Officers from the National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police raided the toilet and recovered 14 pounds of cocaine during a joint operation.

The National Crime Agency said the cocaine could have a potential street value of £700,000

The Colombian national had just arrived from Bogata when he went to the toilet on Thursday afternoon carrying a black bag containing the drugs to meet his contact. 

Police also arrested a 43-year-old man in the airport arrivals area who is believed to be linked to the smuggling plot. 

According to the National Crime Agency, the drugs had a wholesale value of £250,000, but one cut and sold the value would increase to £700,000. 

Shortly after arresting the three suspects at Heathrow, Met Police officers raided an address in east London where they detained a 46-year-old man. 

All four are being questioned on suspicion of drug importation offences. 

Darren Barr, senior investigating officer at the NCA said: ‘Heathrow Airport provided invaluable assistance in this operation, and working with partners such as the MPS, Border Force and the Heathrow authorities we are determined to target those who may be involved in criminality at the airport.

‘Corruption threatens the security of the UK border and the public at large which is why we see it as a priority.’ 

The Heathrow security guard and the Colombian national were arrested along with the cocaine inside a toilet on the airside of Terminal Five. A third man was arrested in arrivals

Officers from the National Crime Agency and the Met Police launched Thursday’s joint operation which also led to the arrest of a fourth man in a house in east London, file photo