20 YEARS FOR pounds 4M DRUG MAN.

Byline: LUKE TRAYNOR

Thailand in December on holiday.

The court heard how in January, officers from Merseyside police, acting on behalf of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), searched Madu's vehicle.

They found 6,000 euros and pounds 600 in Scottish notes.

Madu claimed this money was his and he was planning to leave the UK the following day for good.

Michael Hall, defending, said Madu's role was as a "middle man" fixer and packer and asked the court to accept he was only just higher in the organisation than McNamee.

Jailing Madu, Judge Williams said he was convicted on clear and compelling evidence, adding: "I have no doubt you were involved in the organisation behind this importation."

A HMRC spokesman said: "This will serve as deterrent to others involved in drug-smuggling activities.

"Our efforts will reduce the devastating impact drugs have on individuals as well as the wider effect on local communities" A MAN was jailed for 20 years for his role in smuggling pounds 4.5m of heroin and cocaine into the country.

Simon Madu was tracked down by investigators after his fingerprints were found on three suitcases stuffed with drugs.

Customs officials had stopped driver Stephen McNamee at Dover ferry port on September 1 last year.

A haul of 100kg of powder - 90.18kg of heroin and 10.97kg of cocaine - was seized from the car.

McNamee was arrested and jailed for eight years in December last year at Canterbury crown court after he admitted smuggling.

But further inquiries uncovered the fingerprints of Madu, 33, on the drugs wrappings.

He was arrested in Liverpool but told officers he had no knowledge of the drugs.

The court heard Madu, of Penmann Crescent, Halewood, tried to explain he was not working, but living on money his father had left him.

He said he had only gone abroad to Malaga in August last year to recover his girlfriend's car, which had been in an accident, and had gone to

JAIL: Simon Madu

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JAIL: Simon Madu