A Kenilworth man has been jailed after 192 kilos of cocaine were found in a consignment of frozen chickens.

Edward Durnion from Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Stafford Crown Court and was sentenced today (19 December) to nine years in prison.

The 36-year-old was arrested in March after officers from West Midlands Police's regional organised crime Unit made the find at a frozen food wholesaler in a business park in north London.

Officers - who were following up enquiries on a previous consignment of drugs recovered in November 2022 - were told the consignment came from the same supplier.

It had arrived that morning and a search of the pallet revealed more cocaine packed in boxes underneath the frozen chicken.

The cocaine was discovered in March in a business park in north London (image via West Midlands Police)

The drugs were seized but the pallet was repackaged with books and left at the warehouse.

The next day Durnion arrived in a van, collected the pallet and drove it to a storage unit in Biggleswade, where he discovered the drugs were missing.

advertisement

He was arrested by officers working with Metropolitan Police specialist crime north team, who were tracking his movements, and later charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Detective Inspector Dave Simpson said: "192 kilos of cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of £5.5 million and a potential street value of £18 million, so this was a significant seizure which will have caused considerable disruption to that particular chain of supply.

"This is part of our ongoing work to tackle organised criminal activity including drugs networks across the West Midlands and beyond.

"We're focused on those thought to be involved in the highest levels of organised crime across our region. It sends out a clear warning to others intent on supplying Class A drugs – we simply won't tolerate it."

Officers said the cocaine has a street value of £18 million (image via West Midlands Police)