A Beckenham woman has been jailed after trying to smuggle nearly £300,000 worth of liquid cocaine into the UK.

Hazel Blasby, 36, of Calverley Close, was sentenced to four years in prison after appearing at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday (Aug 26).

Blasby flew into Gatwick Airport from Barbados on June 17 and was caught by Border Force after the drugs were discovered in her luggage.

During a search a two-litre bottle of liquid, labelled as “fruit punch syrup”, was found and tests afterwards found it to be cocaine.

The case was referred to the National Crime Agency’s Border Policing Command and, following questioning, Blasby was charged with attempting to import a class A drug.

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Forensic analysis of the liquid revealed the contents contained the equivalent of 1.77 kilos of cocaine, which if cut it would have a street value of £297,000.

Border Force regional director Carole Upshall said: “I’ve no doubt this cocaine was destined for the streets of the UK, and this seizure will represent a significant dent in the profits of the criminals involved.

“Working with our colleagues from the NCA we are determined to do all we can to stop traffickers like Blasby and the criminal networks involved in drug smuggling.”

Blasby pleaded guilty.