Sisters Jailed for 39 Years in $10m Heroin Smuggling Case

Two sisters have been jailed for a total of 39 years after HM Revenue & Customs Officers foiled their plan to smuggle more than £5 million of heroin into the UK concealed inside furniture in the back of a van.

Jacquline Merceij (39) and her sister Manon Merceij (45), who were found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court last month of attempting to smuggle 114 kilos of heroin through the Port of Harwich, have been jailed for 21 years and 18 years.

Passing sentence, His Honour Judge Christopher Ball said:

“It is a very depressing occasion considering what the two of you have done. It has ruined your lives and those of your families. I had to stop and think of the consequences had you succeeded in your scheme. There would have been a flood of heroin into Britain and hundreds of lives would have been ruined by the drug that you would have made available. Drugs are evil and the penalties have to be great to deter others. Regrettably, you contested the case and you must be sentenced in accordance with the guidelines.”

During the two week trial in February, the court heard that on Monday 25 June 2007, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers stopped a white van that had recently arrived on the ferry from the Hook of Holland. The vehicle was driven by Jacquline Merceij, accompanied by Manon Merceij in the passenger seat. When officers opened the back doors they found that the vehicle was carrying a quantity of furniture; closer examination showed that the items were old and not in the best condition. Officers removed some of furniture and discovered a large quantity of drugs, in total they recovered over 114kgs of heroin with a street value in excess of £5 million. Both sisters were arrested and charged with smuggling offences.

John Kay, HMRC’s Head of Criminal Investigation for Eastern England said:

“This is an excellent result which has kept a huge amount of a very deadly drug off the streets of UK towns and cities. This case demonstrates the determination and professionalism of HMRC Officers in combating drug smugglers, smashing the criminal supply routes and destroying the drugs that spread so much criminality and misery through our communities.

“Drug smuggling is a very serious offence that has a significant and damaging effect on all our communities. We will do everything in our power to disrupt those smuggling drugs into the UK. I would urge anyone with any information on any illegal activity to telephone our 24 hour confidential hot line on 0800 59 5000.”

The case was prosecuted by the independent Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office (RCPO). Gregor McGill, Divisional Head of the Serious Organised Crime Division at RCPO, said:

“This is a good outcome in this case. Heroin causes great harm and prosecution is an essential tool against those who seek to import it into the UK. We hope that the sentences in this case will act as a deterrent to those tempted to smuggle heroin in the future.”

In recent months Officers from HMRC have intercepted large hauls of smuggled class A drugs and with RCPO have successfully prosecuted a number of cases. Including two men jailed for 32 years for attempting to smuggle 13.8 kilos of heroin with a street value of £1.7 million through Newhaven ferryport. And a 51 year mother of four was jailed for six years in March after attempting to smuggle nearly two kilos of cocaine through Stanstead Airport.

Source: HM Revenue & Customs (National)

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