£1 Million Cocaine Stash Found Hidden in Electric Wheelchair at Manchester Airport

Portuguese national charged with drug smuggling after 12kg of cocaine discovered during security check on flight from Barbados.

Nearly £1 million worth of cocaine was discovered concealed in an electric wheelchair during a security check at Manchester Airport on March 30, 2025.
The drugs, weighing 12kg and hidden in 11 packages within the seat and backrest, were detected by Border Force officers.
The passenger, 56-year-old Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, was arrested and charged with drug smuggling.
De Lemos-Francisco remains in custody and is scheduled to appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 6, 2025.
The National Crime Agency highlighted the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking methods and its ongoing collaboration with international partners to combat the trade in Class A drugs.