PICTURED: Fake ambulance used to smuggle £30 million of drugs into the West Midlands
This fake ambulance was used to allegedly smuggle 270kg of drugs worth £30 million into the West Midlands by criminals posing as paramedics, it was revealed today.
Cocaine, heroin and amphetamine bags were hidden behind interior panels, in cupboards and under the floor of the vehicle, along with three holdalls of ecstasy pills, the National Crime Agency said.
Officers, who called the plot 'audacious', said two men in paramedic uniforms arrived in Birmingham in the ambulance on Tuesday morning, and were met by two other men.
Brent Lyon, from the NCA's Armed Operations Unit, said: "This was an audacious plot. We believe the two men in the ambulance posed as paramedics to avoid unwanted attention when entering the country through Harwich. Our officers were ready and waiting though and stopped the drugs from being distributed to crime groups across the country."
Four men were arrested at a car park on Hill Street, Smethwick.
Two men from London have also been arrested.
* Dutch nationals ? Olof Schoon, aged 37; Leonardus Bijlsma, aged 55; Dennis Vogelaar, aged 28; and Richard Engelsbel, aged 50 ? were charged with drug offences and appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court this morning.
All four have been remanded in custody until 2nd July when they will appear at Birmingham Crown Court.
The two men from London have been bailed pending further enquiries.
