Man Is Imprisoned After Smuggling Cocaine Worth Rs. 177 Crore Into the UK Under Cheese Blocks

Authorities in the UK imprisoned Saleem Chaudhri for smuggling cocaine worth over £17 million (Rs 177 crore). The narcotics were discovered by the police concealed in cheese blocks and trash bags.

During a raid on a Blackburn industrial unit last year, he was taken into custody. Chaudhri worked with courier Rieadul Mohabath and earned more than £70 million (Rs 729 crore) between 2022 and 2023, according to the BBC, which broke the story of the event.

At Preston Crown Court, the 46-year-old and Mohabath both acknowledged conspiring to distribute cocaine. Mohabath, 28, received a 16-year sentence, while Chaudhri, 27, was given a 27-year and six-month prison term.

According to the BBC, Chaudhri was initially arrested by police as he was driving a Toyota Estate to the Old Fire Station in Blackburn after obtaining “possession of a Toyota Estate from a drugs courier.”

The broadcaster stated that when authorities broke into his flat, 217 kg of cocaine—worth an estimated £17 million—were found inside.

Some of those narcotics, according to them, were “hidden inside blocks of Gouda cheese” that were brought in from Belgium. Additionally, drug shipments “ready to be handed to couriers” were discovered in black bin bags.

Chaudhri had intended to provide 63 kilograms to one courier and 67 kg to another on the day he was caught. Police discovered a “significant amount of cash, a cash counting machine, and suspected Class A drugs of varying weights” when they detained Mohabath in July 2023.

Authorities also found a cache of around £10k (more than Rs 10 lakhs) in cash during a search on Chaudhri’s Waterside, Blackburn, residence.

Between September 2022 and May 2023, Chaudhri intended to sell more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine for more than £70 million (Rs 729 crore).

Chaudhri’s life had fallen apart, as seen by the expression on his face as we took him into custody. The severe sentence he got today reflects that, according to police officer Haydn Sibley, who was cited by the BBC.