British Couple Jailed For Drug Smuggling

A British couple have bagged eight years jail term by a Portuguese court for drug smuggling on a luxury Caribbean cruise ship.

Roger and Sue Clarke, both 72, were caught last year in an attempt to smuggle 9kg (20lbs) of cocaine with a street value of £1m.

The couple, from Bromley in London, were on the Marco Polo which was sailing from the Caribbean to Europe.

The class A drugs were discovered in the lining of four suitcases during a raid in their cabin while entering Lisbon.

The couple claimed to be betrayed by a friend named Lee who asked them to help him bring the suitcases.

Judge Margarida Alves dismissed the couple’s story for lack of credibility. She insisted the Brits were drug mules who used the four South American cruises as a front for their crimes.

As she sentenced them to eight years, Mrs Clarke began crying, while her husband turned to her and said “we will be 80 when we get out”.

The judge said she was determined not to let Portugal become a gateway to Europe for drugs.

“Eight years for drug trafficking” the judge said. Roger Clarke, visibly shaken, lifted his hands to his head and with tears in his eyes he turned to his wife.

According to the judge, the couple engaged in the crime because of the profit involved.

“You are not drug users,” Judge Margarida Alves said. “You clearly did this because of the high profits you could make.” she added.