Categories: CrimeLocal NewsUK

Bajan jailed for 16 years in UK

A Barbadian drug smuggler has been jailed for 16 years for bringing £2million-worth (overBDS$5 million) of pink liquid cocaine into the UK last July.

Errol Watson, age 54, from Wanstead in East London was arrested after Border Force officers at Gatwick examined a consignment labelled as oil filters, which had been shipped from Barbados.
Cylinders inside the filters were x-rayed (see below), revealing a suspect substance inside.
When officers drilled into the cylinders a bright pink liquid came out. It tested positive for cocaine.
Acting quickly so as not to alert the crime group responsible, NCA investigators took the cylinders to a specialist laboratory where all the liquid was removed, yielding around 26 kilos of the drug, with a potential value once adulterated and sold on the streets of up to £2 million.
The cylinders were then refilled with sand and continued on their journey to Wanstead.
NCA officers listened in as Watson took delivery of the cylinders and attempted to get inside them. When he realized the drugs were missing Watson phoned a contact in the Caribbean to complain, telling them: “Somebody opened this thing and put something in it . . . this thing empty . . . I’m telling you . . .”. Shortly after officers arrested him.
In coordinated activity, detectives from the Royal Barbados Police moved in simultaneously on two addresses in Barbados where they arrested Watson’s brother. They also nabbed another quantity of pink liquid cocaine. A number of other cylinders were recovered at the other premises.
Records seized in the two raids showed that Watson had been involved in a number of other previous shipments using several different aliases as cover.
In some cases cylinders had been recycled, and sent back to Barbados empty to be used again.
Last week Monday, Watson pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine on what should have been day one of his trial at the Old Bailey.
He was jailed for 16 years on Wednesday, January 18.
His brother had previously been convicted in Barbados of cocaine possession.
Steve McIntyre, from the National Crime Agency’s Border Policing Command in the UK, said:
“Drug trafficking is a crime that has great impacts, from exploitation in South American source countries to violence and gun crime on the streets of London. I have no doubt that Errol Watson had been involved in this type of criminality for years.
“This was certainly an unusual method of smuggling cocaine, the first time we have seen it in brightly coloured pink liquid like this.
“It was also a very deep concealment, demonstrating that the organised crime groups we are combating have access to sophisticated equipment and expertise.
“Working with our law enforcement colleagues in Border Force and overseas we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and bring to justice the criminal networks involved in international drug smuggling.”
Laura Tams, Specialist Prosecutor from the Organised Crime Division, said:
“Errol Watson was at the heart of a sophisticated and organized conspiracy to import cocaine into the UK from the Caribbean.
“Through collaborative working between prosecutors, the National Crime Agency, Border Force and the authorities in Barbados, he has been brought to justice.”
(The National Crime Agency)

Barbados Today

Barbados Today is the leading news service in Barbados. Founded in January 2010, with the mission to keep you informed, we aim to share news on matters of national interest, raise the level of public debate and help our readers make informed decisions in their daily lives. We do this by building confidence in our content through consistency. We strive for accuracy, accountability and maturity in our reporting at all times.

View Comments

  • all of the countries that dont have the death penalty, has overcrowding jailes and a ridiculous annual budget to shell out for the upkeep of those greedy, violent, dope/death dealing dogs. that money could be spent on the aging and needey part of the population.
    BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY AND INCLUDE MAJOR DRUG TRAFFIKERS , may they rot in hell.

  • all of the countries that dont have the death penalty, has overcrowding jailes and a ridiculous annual budget to shell out for the upkeep of those greedy, violent, dope/death dealing dogs. that money could be spent on the aging and needey part of the population.
    BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY AND INCLUDE MAJOR DRUG TRAFFIKERS , may they rot in hell.

  • Richard,
    Bajans like 'popping a few necks'; if necessary they will volunteer to do it for nothing. They like punishing people for assumed wrongs..
    It is a psychology deeply rooted in slavery. Just look at the magistrates' courts.
    Why do yo think we got rid of the privy council?

  • Richard,
    Bajans like 'popping a few necks'; if necessary they will volunteer to do it for nothing. They like punishing people for assumed wrongs..
    It is a psychology deeply rooted in slavery. Just look at the magistrates' courts.
    Why do yo think we got rid of the privy council?

  • He was tooo brave to go to UK with that. 16 years!! The Brits do not joke when sentencing. Who will be the next arse to try and smuggle again? Stupse

  • He was tooo brave to go to UK with that. 16 years!! The Brits do not joke when sentencing. Who will be the next arse to try and smuggle again? Stupse

  • Just hope that when the call was made to Barbados that the local police were able to identify the source. Look how quick his case concluded. Serious about fighting crime there!!

  • Just hope that when the call was made to Barbados that the local police were able to identify the source. Look how quick his case concluded. Serious about fighting crime there!!

Recent Posts

#BTEditorial – A ballad for Burgie

“We write our name on history’s page With expectations great Strict guardians of our heritage Firm craftsmen of our fate.”…

8 hours ago

King: Return to risky sex as HIV fears ease

The fear which once surrounded the contraction of HIV no longer exists and as a result Barbadians have returned to…

14 hours ago

New audit office “for discipline”

Government is in the process of establishing an internal audit unit to oversee the constant improvement and greater discipline in…

14 hours ago

Communities must be on guard

Barbadians must take greater responsibility for the behaviour of those, particularly young people, living around them. This was the stern…

14 hours ago

Contract awarded for airport marketing

Government has granted a five-year contract to a US-based firm to beef up marketing of the island’s products and services…

14 hours ago

More emphasis on practical learning

The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training will be launching a new National Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET)…

14 hours ago