A DRUG dealer has been jailed for almost ten years after being caught bringing more than £200,000 worth of cocaine into Southampton from the Caribbean on a cruise liner.

Stepping out on the city docks from the ship in October last year, 55-year-old Kevin Enright was stopped by Border Force officers.

As they searched his luggage, they found traces of drugs within a false lining of two suitcases, which he claimed were innocently purchased during his cruise in St Lucia.

In total, there were almost three kilos of cocaine inside the cases, with a street value of £220,000.

Despite denying the charges, and claiming the cruise on the Arcadia liner came as a result of a good day at the bookies, he was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years at Southampton Crown Court, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Enright denied knowledge of the drugs, but NCA investigators were able to prove that he had collected the cases in St Lucia, and been in contact with others, suspected of involvement in the importation, including one man who was supposed to have collected the drugs following Enright's arrival.

The 55-year-old, who was found guilty of importing class A drugs, has a previous conviction for drug dealing, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2005.

The jury, deliberating on Thursday, took just one hour to come back with their verdicts on Enright, of Dunstable.

Bob Holness, NCA senior officer, said: "Our investigation involved liaison with law enforcement partners in the Caribbean, and through that, we were able to prove that Enright's story was made up.

"It became clear that he had contacts with others involved in drug trafficking on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Cocaine fuels violence and exploitation on our streets, and Enright's role was a crucial one in a long criminal chain. That is reflected in the sentence he received."

Emma Porter, director of Border Force South, said: "This is another excellent example of Border Force officers preventing class A drugs from ending up on the streets of the UK, where they cause significant harm to both individuals and communities.

"Working with the NCA and other law enforcement partners, we will continue to tackle smuggling of all kinds and bring those responsible to justice."