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£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.

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Overview

  • 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.