Smuggler caught with 100lb of cocaine claimed he only had sombreros
A drug smuggler who was caught with 100lb (48kg) of cocaine from Mexico in his luggage told officers he was only carrying sombreros.
Kristopher Purvis posed as 'an innocuous tourist' when attempting to bring drugs with a street value of £5.64 million into the UK.
The 35-year-old, from Durham, was stopped by Border Force Officers at Edinburgh airport while carrying a black suitcase and a bag filled with Mexican sombrero hats.
When questioned, he told officers that the hats were the only things he had brought home with him from his visit to Mexico City.
It later emerged that Purvis was being used as a mule by international drug traffickers and the cocaine was found in his suitcase.
Police described it as a 'substantial attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland'.
Purvis pleaded guilty to the importation and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at Edinburgh's High Court on March 4.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday.
A trial date of Nov 10 has been set for a second suspected drug smuggler who was arrested at the time and pleaded not guilty to the same charges.
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.
'Purvis was used as a mule for the criminals keen to increase their profits when selling drugs on the streets of the UK.
'The NCA continues to work closely with UK Border Force, police forces and other law enforcement partners throughout the world to reduce the supply of class A drugs intended for the UK market.'
Det Chief Insp Laura Sands of Police Scotland, said: 'This conviction and sentencing serves as yet another example of our ongoing commitment to target the supply and distribution of controlled drugs across Scotland, which remains an absolute priority for the Organised Crime Partnership and its partners.
'This intervention and subsequent detection disrupted an attempt to bring a significant volume of class A controlled drugs into the country.
'I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that information from our local communities is an essential part of our investigation, as we work to disrupt the drugs trade and work with our partners to bring those responsible to justice.'
Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), added: 'This was a substantial attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland.
'Kristopher Purvis has now been held accountable thanks to an extensive OCP Scotland and Border Force operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
'With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm that these drugs inflict on communities.'
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