Corrupt border officer jailed for aiding drugs gang

Former port officer Kevin Smith admitted misconduct in public offence

A corrupt Border Force officer who allowed a car carrying drugs through a ferry terminal has been jailed for two years.

Kevin Smith let 15kg (33lb) of ecstasy pass through his checkpoint at Portsmouth Port in Hampshire on 26 August 2023.

He admitted a charge of misconduct in public office but was found not guilty of conspiring to import drugs.

The 38-year-old appeared in the dock at Kingston Crown Court along with three members of a London-based drugs gang, who were also jailed.

(Left to right) David Johnson, Caprice Thompson and Sinan Baki were jailed at Kingston Crown Court

Ringleader David Johnson, 51, who was jailed for 12 years, originally met Smith in prison, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Johnson was serving a sentence for importing drugs while Smith was a prison officer, the NCA added.

Johnson, of Reed Place, Clapham, pleaded guilty to conspiring to import and supply class A drugs and three charges of possession with intent to supply.

The car driver, Caprice Thompson, 46, of Hayter Road, Brixton, was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of conspiracy to import drugs.

Sinan Baki, 49, of Britannia Close, Clapham, was acquitted of the charge but previously admitted conspiring to supply class A drugs and was jailed for eight years.

Bags of ecstasy with a value of £400,000 were found by police in the boot of the car

The NCA said it put Smith under surveillance when it became clear an insider was involved.

CCTV evidence showed meetings with Johnson in Portsmouth in the run-up to the smuggling attempt, the agency added.

The drugs, worth £400,000, were intercepted by police on the way to London, the NCA said.

Dave Rock from the agency said: “Fortunately this type of corruption is relatively rare but it does present a real threat to the security of the public.

“People like Kevin Smith are invaluable to organised crime groups, as they can use their access and knowledge to aid their criminal endeavours."