Van driver jailed after cannabis smuggling run via Belfast port

A Lithuanian van driver, Paulius Andrulis, 37, has been jailed after the National Crime Agency said he used a van to smuggle cannabis worth GBP 220,000 into Northern Ireland and across the border to the Republic of Ireland. He was arrested at Belfast port on 15 June 2025 after arriving on a sailing from Cairnryan port in Scotland.

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Border Force officers questioned Andrulis about his movements and he said he was delivering a hot tub to an address in Mullingar in the Republic of Ireland. A search of the vehicle uncovered a purpose-built hide in the roof containing 27.5 kilos of herbal cannabis, described as a class B drug.

The hide ran the length of the van roof and was accessed through the top of the rear doors. Andrulis was arrested the following day on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.

In interview, he said he had been asked to drop the van at the address and that it would be returned to him hours later with the hot tub removed. He denied knowledge of the drugs and said the delivery was arranged by a man he knew as "Sprite".

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He appeared at Laganside Crown Court on 29 June and admitted the offence. The same court sentenced him today, 11 August, to two years and two months in prison.

NCA officers said their investigation showed he had likely been involved in a number of previous smuggling runs and that his account lacked credibility. Border Force said the interception was an expert operation and that it would continue to pursue drug smuggling into Northern Ireland and across the border.

#cannabis #smuggling #NationalCrimeAgency #BorderForce #Belfastport

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