A father of nine alleged that he was set up when police apprehended him with over 1.5 kilograms of cocaine after he agreed to deliver a package, as stated in court.
Luke Campbell, a former member of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards who had served in Afghanistan, received £250 for transporting a package from Swansea to Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire on August 8. The 34-year-old, employed as a delivery driver for DPD, met the recipient through work, but the interception occurred at the Pont Abraham motorway services.
According to Swansea Crown Court, Dyfed-Powys Police received information about a Mercedes Sprinter van heading west on the M4 from Swansea. The vehicle was stopped around 3:50 pm, and a search revealed a Lidl shopping bag filled with white powder hidden beneath the front passenger seat.
The bag was found in a compartment, and Campbell, the sole occupant of the van, was arrested. His iPhone was seized from the dashboard, but he refused to disclose the pin code.
During transit to a police station in Llanelli, Campbell reportedly mentioned being framed. Authorities recovered a set of digital scales with traces of white powder from a wardrobe at his residence.
A forensic examination of the bag unveiled a package labeled “Elite” containing a kilo of cocaine with 84% purity, a half-kilo block with 68% purity, and a 123g block with 65% purity. The estimated wholesale value of the drugs was around £33,000, with a potential street value reaching up to £187,700.
In police interviews, Campbell confessed to acting as a courier for an acquaintance from DPD, receiving £250 for picking up a package in Swansea post-work hours. He acknowledged being aware that the bag contained money or drugs, as the acquaintance was involved in drug dealing. Campbell also admitted to using the scales found at his home to split drugs purchased for music festivals.
Having previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Campbell, residing in Swansea, was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Despite having no prior convictions, he had received police cautions for common assault and battery.
His defense attorney, Matt Murphy, highlighted Campbell’s unblemished record but underscored the detrimental impact of his military service on his mental health. Financial struggles and associating with the wrong crowd were cited as factors leading to his involvement in the offense.
Judge Geraint Walters noted that Campbell had acted under the direction of others and had been entrusted with a significant responsibility, ultimately sentencing him to 32 months in prison.