Gambia cocaine swallowers face jail

6:08pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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A father and son who admitted swallowing packages of cocaine after agreeing to buy them during a trip to Africa have been warned they face jail.

Paul and Michael Clynes needed emergency hospital treatment after suffering stomach problems when they swallowed the packages.

Oxford Crown Court heard the pair bought the drugs during a trip to The Gambia, in West Africa, in August 2007, but claimed someone else had imported them to the UK.

The pair, who are both unemployed and live in Woodfield, Banbury, each admitted one charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply on Friday.

Paul Clynes, 45, admitted having 28.92g cocaine, while his son Michael, 23, admitted having 14.27g of cocaine.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said: "The Crown say that these two gentlemen went to The Gambia and came back with the drugs in their stomachs, and went back to Banbury with the intention to supply these drugs.

"The defence put the case that they came back from The Gambia and swallowed the drugs on the UK side."

Terence Woods, defending Paul Clynes, said: "He accepts he was offered the drugs in The Gambia and refused to import them himself, but said to the individual 'if you import them, I will buy them at the other end'— which is what he did."

Judge Patrick Eccles gave the pair bail on condition that they reported to Banbury Police Station twice a week, surrendered their passports and did not apply for any other travel documents.

He said: "A case of this nature crosses the custody threshold and both defendants must be aware of that."

He ordered them to return to court for sentencing on Friday, November 14.