£488k heroin stash found in luggage

AN Oldham passenger on a flight to Manchester from Pakistan had almost £500,000 of heroin hidden in his suitcase, a court heard.

Tabassum Gulnar (34), of Lees Road, was challenged as he walked through the ‘nothing to declare’ aisle with his luggage.

UK Border Agency officers had already examined the bag and seen four packets hidden inside, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

Gulnar insisted he knew nothing about the drugs, 6.36kg of heroin with a street value of around £488,000.

Brendan O’Leary, prosecuting, said Gulnar’s story was like something from a bad film script.

“The Crown’s case is that he knew full well what was in that bag.”

Unemployed Gulnar, who lived on benefits, flew to Pakistan late last year. He said he bought the cheap suitcase at a market stall shortly before returning.

He and his sister had been due to fly from Lahore to London, but rebooked to fly from Islamabad to Manchester.

Philip Andrews, defending, said his client had been a “blind mule” - an unknowing participant in a plan hatched by others.

The jury convicted him of smuggling by majority verdict after a four-day trial.

Gulnar will be sentenced next month.

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