Corrupt border guard helped organised crime gang try to smuggle drugs and firearms through Eurotunne

CONVICTED: Simon Pellett

A CORRUPT UK border officer tried to smuggle firearms and drugs into the UK via the Channel Tunnel while on duty.

Simon Pellett, 37, was yesterday convicted of multiple offences involving cocaine, heroin and firearms that it was feared would end up in the hands of London gangs.

Pellett, of Elms Vale Road, Dover, was found guilty of three counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of smuggled cocaine, heroin and firearms and misconduct in a public office.

He was corruptly working for an international organised criminal gang.

Two members of the gang were also convicted for their part in the crimes.

GANGSTER: David Baker was also convicted

David Baker, 55, of Lions Close, Eltham was also found guilty of three counts of being knowingly concerned in smuggling cocaine, heroin and firearms.

Alex Howard, 35, of Station Road, Teynham, Kent was found guilty of two counts of being knowingly concerned in smuggling cocaine, heroin and firearms.

All three men will be sentenced at the same court at a later date.

Pellett, Howard, and Baker were observed by police in both the UK and France.

On Friday, October 6 2017, Pellet went to his place of work and collected an official Border Force van.

He then drove alone and took the channel tunnel to France.

The three were arrested following a joint, intelligence-led operation between the Met Police Organised Crime Command, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Central Office for the Repression of Organised Crime of the French National Police (OCLCO).

SEIZED: The drugs had an overall street value of £3.4million

David Rock from the NCA’s Anti-Corruption Unit said: “As a border officer, Pellet’s job was to prevent the illegal importation of goods into the UK, including firearms and drugs.

"He had the power to arrest anyone suspected of being involved in this type of crime, yet his personal greed made him susceptible to corruption and allowed him to be exploited by a UK-based organised crime group.

“Corruption at the border threatens the safety and security of the UK, which is why tackling it is such a priority for the NCA and law enforcement partners.”

The cross-border probe led officers to identify members of an international criminal network who were importing firearms and Class A drugs via the Eurotunnel Shuttle.Investigators believe the defendants played a key part in a wider organised criminal network responsible for smuggling drugs and firearms into the UK.

Pellett was unaware the NCA had placed a listening device in his van, and as he drove he was heard making arrangements to rendezvous with Howard and Baker in Loon Plage, between Calais and Dunkirk.

Isleworth Crown Court heard that, in an attempt to provide a cover story, Pellet went to a wine warehouse and purchased some wine, placing this on show in the front of the van.

He then drove further into France and went to a pre-arranged meeting point, a supermarket car park in Loon Plage.

Howard was waiting in the car park area whilst Baker placed three heavy holdalls into Pellet’s Border Force van.

All three men were then arrested by French police.

The three holdalls were subsequently found to contain eight pistols, two revolvers, a large quantity of ammunition, 28 kgs of cocaine, with a street value of £2.8 million, and 6 kgs of heroin worth £600,000.

The firearms included self-loading and machine pistols, revolvers, silencers and suitable ammunition.

BUSTED: Alex Howard was the third criminal convicted

There was also ammunition suitable for a Scorpion sub-machine gun.

All three suspects were extradited from France to the UK on May 11 2018. The lengthy trail began on October 8.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Sam Cailes from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “This has been a complex and highly-successful joint operation that has effectively removed a criminal network, which included a serving corrupt Border Force official.

"We are committed to reducing the number of firearms entering the UK and potentially ending up in the hands of violent criminals.

"The removal of these weapons and drugs has reduced a significant threat to London’s communities."

Detective Superintendent Neil Ballard from the Met's Specialist Crime Command added: "Our continued work with other agencies - both domestic and international - to deter organised criminality is having a real impact on making London safer for those who live and work here.

"We will relentlessly pursue people who are involved in the supply and possession of firearms and drugs and bring them to justice.”