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Man, 76, charged with smuggling cocaine

Liam Creedon,Press Association
Friday 12 February 2010 16:49 GMT

A pensioner has been charged with smuggling cocaine into Britain, the UK Border Agency said today.

Derek Orton, 76, was arrested yesterday when he arrived at Heathrow airport after flying in from Nairobi, Kenya.

Two kilos (4.4lb) of cocaine, with a street value of around £80,000, was found in baggage, officers said.

Orton, who was born in Essex but now lives in Kampala, Uganda, was later charged with attempting to import a Class A drug.

Peter Avery, assistant director of the UK Border Agency's criminal and financial investigation team, said: "UK Border Agency officers are determined to stop Class A drugs reaching our streets.

"We would urge anyone with information about drug smuggling to call our Smuggling Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Orton is due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, north London, today.

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