A drug trafficker has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he was caught trying to smuggle 1.5kg of cocaine into the country.

Clayton Johnson, of Downham Way, Bromley, admitted to swallowing 56 packages of the class A drug which he intended to sell to pay off a £6,000 debt for damaging a boat.

The Jamaican national appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on November 5.

Johnson, who is 52, flew into Gatwick Airport from Jamaica on August 29 where he was stopped by Border Force officers.

A search of his suitcase revealed cocaine concealed in two pairs of shoes.

He was arrested on suspicion of importing class A drugs and a body scan revealed a number of packages inside his stomach.

When questioned, Johnson admitted to smuggling the drug and that he had swallowed a further 56 packages and stuffed four more in his rectum.

Johnson also admitted to previously attempting to smuggle cocaine from Jamaica to the UK in 2012.

On that occasion, he had also swallowed packages of cocaine but fell ill and was admitted to hospital where they were recovered.

NCA branch commander, Andy Noyes, said: "This was not the first time that Johnson had attempted to smuggle cocaine into our country and his sentence reflects his repeated efforts to break the law for financial gain.

"Swallowing these powerful drugs was incredibly dangerous and could have caused great harm to Johnson; or if his venture had succeeded, to members of the public.

"By removing this cocaine from the market, the NCA and Border Force have prevented it from ending up on UK streets, where class A drugs fuel violence and exploitation.

"We continue to work with partners to target and disrupt organised crime groups and protect the public."

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