A 56-year-old Portuguese man pretended to be disabled to smuggle one million euros worth of cocaine into Manchester Airport, England.
Reports indicate that Casimiro de Lemos Francisco attempted to bring the drug into the United Kingdom by concealing it in an electric wheelchair, which he claimed to need for mobility.
The incident occurred on March 30, 2025, but the Portuguese national was only sentenced recently. On Thursday, September 11, Casimiro was informed he would serve six years and nine months in prison.
12 kg of Cocaine Valued at 1 Million Euros
Despite using a wheelchair, suspicions were raised when he arrived in Manchester. Police officers approached him and discovered 11 packages of cocaine weighing 12 kg, valued at 880,000 pounds, equivalent to one million euros.
The drugs were hidden in the backrest and seat of the wheelchair. Additionally, a tracking device had been installed in the battery by the criminal group responsible for the operation.
Casimiro, a native of Guimarães, admitted to the crime in court. He traveled with the drug from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Manchester. At the airport, he claimed he was visiting a friend in England for two days, which did not convince the authorities.
“Pretending to be Disabled to Traffic Drugs is Despicable”
At the time of the arrest, the investigation leader, Charles Lee, emphasized that “organized crime groups will do anything to smuggle drugs, but using a wheelchair and pretending to be disabled is particularly despicable.”
He also noted that British authorities work “with national and international partners” to combat drug threats and “protect the UK public.”
