NI drug smuggler sentenced to 14 years by Greek court

A Co Tyrone truck driver has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for drug smuggling after being arrested in Greece following a Europe-wide police operation that included gardai.

Andrew Doherty (38) was stopped in Igoumenitsa in November, 2011 while driving a truck containing 125kg of herbal cannabis worth €1.2m.

Investigators believe it was bound for Northern Ireland.

An internationally coordinated police operation included officers from Ireland, Europol and Customs and Coastguard agencies in Greece, and was headed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Doherty, with an address at Sycamore Avenue, Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, appeared in court in Athens, Greece yesterday where he was sentenced. A Greek national was also jailed.

A number of other suspects were arrested at the time of the seizure which included a further 100kg of herbal cannabis from a warehouse in Greece.

Detective Chief Inspector Todd Clements, from PSNI Organised Crime Branch, said: “We welcome this substantial sentence imposed on an individual involved in drugs supply.

“Drugs pose an international threat to local communities in Northern Ireland and Organised Crime Branch is committed to working with agencies across the world to ensure Northern Ireland is a safer place. Our inquiries into this seizure will continue.”