Scott Parker, the Benoni man arrested in the UK for allegedly trying to smuggle R13-million worth of heroin in the bottom of crates used to transport three cats, will spend Christmas and New Year in jail.
Parker was today remanded in custody by the Isleworth Crown Court until his next appearance, on February 19 2015. At that plea and case management hearing the 43-year-old will be formally arraigned.
He appeared in court via video link from prison today.
London-born Parker, a dual national, was arrested on November 21 and charged with importing a class A drug when he arrived at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre to pick up three domestic cats that had been flown in from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International.
At the time, Britain’s National Crime Agency said: “The alarm was raised … when staff at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre noticed one of the crates was unusually heavy when empty".
“They called in Border Force officers, who examined the crates and located packages of powder in the base. Tests showed the powder was heroin.”
The cats have since been reunited with their owners, who police say were unaware that their pets were used as drug mules.
Paul Bolton, from the National Crime Agency’s Border Policing Command, said: “This was an unusual concealment and if sold in the UK the heroin would have had a value of in excess of £750,000 (R12.958 million)”.
The SA High Commission has said that as Parker travelled on his British passport, it’s a matter for British authorities alone.
It is thought that Parker was in the employ of a company shipping domestic pets to their owners abroad.
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