Stansted Airport officers make first seizure of mephedrone

OFFICERS at Stansted Airport have made the first seizure of the drug mephedrone – also known as meow meow – since its importation was banned. A shipment of 103kg of the drug contained inside five different parcels was intercepted at the Essex hub by the U

OFFICERS at Stansted Airport have made the first seizure of the drug mephedrone - also known as meow meow - since its importation was banned.

A shipment of 103kg of the drug contained inside five different parcels was intercepted at the Essex hub by the UK Border Agency on Tuesday March 30.

The drug parcels had been sent from Mumbai in India via a fast parcel service and were destined for an address in London.

It follows growing concern over the number of young people who have died or fallen ill after taking mephedrone.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has announced a ban on the importation of the drug and its related compounds. Officers at all UK ports and airports put the measures into effect immediately, which led to the first seizure being made at Stansted.

The Border Agency said the exporter made no attempt to conceal the contents of the packages which were clearly marked Methylaminopropan -1-one, one of the banned compounds.

A spokesman said: "Having been seized, the substance will now be tested to confirm it is mephedrone and, subject to the results, destroyed.

"No charges have been brought in relation to the consignment, which was shipped from Mumbai before the importation ban was imposed."

Head of the UK Border Force, Brodie Clark, said: "I am delighted that our officers have acted so swiftly after the Home Secretary's announcement and made this substantial seizure.

"The UK Border Agency is determined to stop harmful drugs reaching our streets. They devastate communities and destroy lives.