Bogus Salford removals man hid cocaine in piano in back of van

Francesco Role was jailed for more than 13 years

A man who masqueraded as a furniture removals driver has been jailed after £4.2m of high-purity cocaine was found hidden inside a piano in his van.

Border security stopped Francesco Role in Newhaven as he returned from France and discovered the drugs after noticing the piano was unusually heavy.

The 45-year-old from Irlam in Salford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply and import the Class A drug.

He was jailed for 13 years and six months.

Role was stopped at Newhaven Port after a trip to Normandy when border guards discovered the piano in the back of his van, hidden under a blanket and surrounded by other furniture.

The back of the instrument was found to contain 89 wrapped blocks of the cocaine and Role was arrested.

The cocaine was found in wrapped blocks and stacked up in the back of the piano

Police found he had used various fake delivery addresses around the UK and had initially tried to claim he was a legitimate businessman.

But he later admitted conspiring to supply the drugs and importing them into the country, Greater Manchester Police said.

Det Insp James Coles said if Role had successfully imported the cocaine it would have had "devastating effects" on local communities.

"His arrest and long custodial sentence will undoubtedly disrupt the drugs trade and local dealers who were reliant on his shipments," he said.