Sombrero cocaine smuggler jailed for 10 years

A drugs smuggler who carried £6m of cocaine into the UK from Mexico, but claimed he was only bringing back sombreros, has been jailed for 10 years

Kritstopher Purvis, 35, landed at Edinburgh airport on 24 July 2024 on a flight via Paris, with a plastic bag containing four large souvenir hats.

But when his luggage was searched, 45kg of cocaine was also found with a value of £5.6m.

Purvis, from County Durham, admitted smuggling offences. The High Court in Edinburgh heard he had acted as a courier to pay off a drug debt.

At the airport, Purvis went to the green 'Nothing to Declare' channel before he was stopped by a Border Force officer.

Advocate depute Brian Gill KC told the court: "He said that the only thing that he had acquired in Mexico was the sombreros."

However, a search of the suitcases found the drugs packaged and covered in a strong smelling liquid

Judge Lord Summers told Purvis: "The drugs were concealed in two suitcases smeared with mustard, no doubt to put sniffer dogs off the scent.

"On any view, this is an exceptionally large haul of drugs. As you know these drugs are capable of causing immense harm to society."

The court heard that when airport officials searched Purvis's suitcase eight vacuum sealed plastic packages were found.

Another officer searched his companion's case and a further seven packages of the Class A drug were recovered.

Purvis stood to have a £5,000 drugs debt wiped out and be paid £20,000 payment for acting as a courier, the court heard.

Donnie Lawrie, from the National Crime Agency, said: "Kristopher Purvis attempted to appear like an innocuous tourist and claimed to only be carrying sombrero souvenirs.

"The truth was, the luggage he was carrying contained millions of pounds worth of drugs."

Moira Orr, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: "This was a substantial attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland.

"With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm that these drugs inflict on communities."

A second man was arrested who pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial date has been set for November