Durham Man Jailed for Smuggling £5.6M Cocaine from Mexico

Kristopher Purvis, a 35-year-old from Durham, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after attempting to smuggle approximately £5.6 million worth of cocaine into the UK through Edinburgh Airport, claiming he had only brought back sombreros from Mexico. Purvis and a companion were stopped by Border Force officers, who discovered 15 packages containing about three kilos each of cocaine, with a street value exceeding £5 million and an average purity of 52%. Purvis admitted responsibility, stating that his companion had nothing to do with the drugs, and pleaded guilty to charges of drug importation and supply. Law enforcement officials highlighted this case as a significant disruption to drug trafficking networks and emphasized ongoing efforts to target both couriers and those orchestrating such operations. The companion arrested with Purvis pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial in November. Authorities credited extensive cooperation between border, police, and prosecutorial agencies for the successful interception and prosecution.