Jail for cocaine dealer found hiding in child’s playhouse after leaving Luton airport

A man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after National Crime Agency officers caught him in possession of cocaine with an estimated value of £4.5 million.
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Robert Stewart, 32, from Broadwater Gardens, Orpington, was arrested on April 23.He was unaware that he was under surveillance by the NCA as he travelled from a car park at Luton airport.As officers moved in to arrest him in Luton Road, Harpenden, Stewart attempted to escape, jumping over a fence at the rear of a pub car park and throwing the keys to his van into a bush.The NCA called in support from Herts and Beds police forces, as well as a police helicopter, and Stewart was found hiding in a child’s playhouse in a nearby garden a short time later.In the rear of the van NCA officers found 57 kilos of cocaine, stuffed into holdalls. A search of the van also revealed two empty purpose-built and hydraulically operated hides.Stewart was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing at Luton Crown Court on May 23.A judge at the same court today sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years in prison.NCA Branch Operations Manager Adam Berry said: “Stewart was arrested as part of a proactive NCA investigation targeting class A drug supply. He was found in possession of a significant quantity of cocaine, with an estimated value of £4.5 million.“I’ve no doubt that had he not been stopped those drugs would have ended on the streets of south east England, in the hands of gangs who bring violence and exploitation to our communities.“We are grateful to Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Police for their support in this operation, and we remain determined to do all we can to target and disrupt the organised networks involved in the distribution of class A drugs.”Sgt Julian Byrne, from Bedfordshire Police’s airport policing team, said: “I would like to pay tribute to our officers for apprehending Stewart. His involvement in drug dealing shows he is a dangerous individual, and it’s positive he will no longer bring harmful substances into our communities.“We’re committed to keeping our county safe from the scourge of drugs and will work quickly to apprehend those thought to be involved.”