A security worker at Heathrow Airport is among four people to be charged after seven kilograms of cocaine were seized at the airport.

Farhan Iqbal, 30, of Southall, was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine along with three Colombian nationals following a joint operation involving the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Iqbal was arrested along with 37-year-old Camilo Alec Pulido Suarez in an airside toilet at Terminal 5 by NCA officers at around 3.30pm on Thursday (November 23).

Suarez had recently stepped off a flight from Bogota. Packages containing the cocaine were seized at the scene.

Separately, 43-year-old Wilmer Salazar-Duarte was arrested in the airport arrivals area, and shortly afterwards, Met officers carried out a search at a property in east London where 46-year-old Alexander Salazar-Duarte was arrested.

All four were charged on Saturday (November 25) when they appeared before magistrates in Uxbridge. They have been remanded in custody ahead of their next hearing on December 22 at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Terminal 5 at Heathrow

The NCA believes the drugs would likely have had a value to organised crime of around £250,00, but if cut and sold in the UK, could have had a potential street value in excess of £700,000.

NCA senior investigating officer Darren Barr said: “Heathrow Airport provided invaluable assistance in this operation, and working with partners such as the MPS, Border Force and the Heathrow authorities we are determined to target those who may be involved in criminality at the airport.

“Corruption threatens the security of the UK border and the public at large which is why we see it as a priority.”

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