Airport authorities intercept Cocaine worth £1million hidden inside electric wheelchair during security check (PHOTOS)

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Cocaine worth £1million is found hidden inside electric wheelchair during security check at Manchester Airport

Nearly £1 million worth of cocaine hidden in an electric wheelchair has been found during an airport security check.

The discovery was made at Manchester Airport on Sunday after a passenger flew in from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Border Force officers scanned the wheelchair and found 11 packages of cocaine, weighing 12kg, hidden in the seat and backrest, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, 56, has been charged with drug smuggling and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 6.

NCA senior investigating officer Charles Lee, said: “The concealment shows the ingenuity crime groups employ to smuggle cocaine.

“The NCA works with partners at home and abroad to combat the threat of Class A drugs and protect the UK public.”

Portuguese national Casimiro De Lemos-Francisco, 56, has been charged with drug smuggling and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 6.