Rimas Ekleris, a 59-year-old Lithuanian national, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to import nearly £5 million worth of cocaine into the UK.
Ekleris was apprehended at Immingham Docks with 60 kilograms of Class A drugs hidden in a concealed compartment within his truck's cab.
Evidence from phone recordings indicated that Ekleris was complicit in the scheme right from the beginning, according to investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
At Grimsby Crown Court on Thursday, Ekleris, originally from the Lithuanian city of Mirijampole, received the 14-year sentence.
He had arrived at Immingham Docks from Cuxhaven in Germany in August 2022, and Border Force officers, acting on intelligence from the NCA, found the concealed cocaine upon searching his vehicle.
The NCA collaborated with the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau and obtained phone recordings that demonstrated Ekleris' involvement in the acquisition, collection, and knowledge of the hidden compartment, as revealed during his trial.
The NCA mentioned an ongoing investigation into the larger organized crime group in Lithuania, with their active support.
Despite Ekleris denying fraudulent evasion charges related to importing goods, a jury found him guilty on September 25, 2023.
Carl Barrass, a senior investigating officer at the NCA, emphasized the agency's commitment to curbing drug supply chains and preventing individuals like Ekleris from contributing to the devastation caused by Class A drugs in communities across the country.
Border Force director Danny Hewitt praised the role of their officers in the detection and seizure of millions of pounds worth of cocaine, underscoring their dedication to preventing dangerous drugs from entering the UK. Photo by Immingham Docks by roger geach, Wikimedia commons.