A Heathrow Airport security manager who abused his position of trust to help international cocaine smugglers has been jailed for 16 and a half years following a major investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
Junaed Dar, who held a position of authority within airport security, was a key insider in a plot to smuggle 22 kilograms of high-purity cocaine into the UK. The Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of £2 million, were carried in the checked luggage of two drug couriers arriving from Colombia. Unbeknownst to them, Colombian authorities—working closely with the NCA—had intercepted the cocaine prior to departure and replaced the concealed drug blocks with identical-sized blocks of wood.
Dar, aware of the incoming shipment, arrived at Heathrow nearly three hours before the start of his shift on the day of the operation. His early arrival was no coincidence—he was there to personally facilitate the smugglers’ movements through the airport and ensure their bags containing the supposed contraband bypassed any scrutiny.
Once the flight landed, the two couriers—Michael Williams and Jessica Waldron—retrieved their suitcases from baggage claim and were discreetly met by Dar, who used his airport credentials and access privileges to escort them to a secure area. CCTV later revealed that he led the couple to a toilet facility, where he took possession of their bags.
Dar then made his way to his vehicle in the airport car park, bags in tow, believing the operation had gone smoothly. However, NCA officers were lying in wait and moved in to arrest him before he could leave the premises.
Williams and Waldron, both of whom claimed to have been acting under direction and believed they were smuggling drugs, were previously sentenced in 2022 to six years and eight months each for their roles in the conspiracy.
Today’s sentencing at [Crown Court name, if known] also saw two more members of the organised crime network brought to justice. Ruford Davis and David Farquharson were instrumental in planning and coordinating the couriers’ journeys to and from Colombia. Both were sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison for their roles in the operation.
An Inside Job
Dar’s conviction highlights the significant threat posed by insider corruption at critical points of national infrastructure. As a trusted member of Heathrow’s airport security team, his access to restricted areas and knowledge of airport operations made him a valuable asset to the criminal network.
Speaking after sentencing, NCA Regional Head of Investigations Jacque Beer said:
“Junaed Dar brazenly abused his position of trust to help bring Class A drugs into the UK. This type of insider threat is something we, along with our partners at Border Force and Heathrow Airport, take incredibly seriously. His conviction and those of his co-conspirators show that we will relentlessly pursue those involved in organised crime at every level.”
Coordinated Response
The investigation was the result of extensive cooperation between international law enforcement agencies, including Colombian authorities, the NCA, Border Force, and Heathrow Airport security services. The operation demonstrated the growing effectiveness of intelligence sharing in tackling transnational drug trafficking.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said:
“We fully supported this investigation and welcome the successful convictions. Heathrow is committed to ensuring the integrity of our staff and operations, and we work closely with the authorities to detect and prevent any criminal activity, especially involving the smuggling of Class A drugs.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of how criminal organisations attempt to infiltrate legitimate systems and the importance of robust security, intelligence-sharing, and proactive law enforcement in combatting such threats.
With Dar, Davis, and Farquharson now behind bars, the NCA continues to pursue leads in this ongoing effort to dismantle the organised crime groups targeting the UK’s borders.
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