Airdrie man caught importing 29,000 esctasy tablets into UK via Snapchat

A Scottish man who tried to import thousands of ecstasy tablets into the UK via the post in a deal arranged over Snapchat has been jailed.

Border Force officers at Birmingham Airport intercepted the parcel addressed to Marshall Scurfield, which was found to contain 29,000 green skull-shaped tablets.

The parcel had been sent from the Netherlands and was addressed to the 22-year-old, who was living in Hebburn, South Tyneside.

The tablets later tested positive for MDMA and had an estimated street value of £140,000.

29,000 ecstasy tablets found in package addressed to Marshall Scurfield NCA

As part of the investigation, the tablets were removed, and a dummy package was sent to Scurfield, who had been receiving parcel tracking updates through Snapchat.

The 22-year-old from Airdrie was arrested by National Crime Agency officers on February 25, 2022 after being seen accepting the package.

When questioned, Scurfield admitted that he had agreed to accept the parcel to settle a drug debt and that arrangements for its delivery had been made using Snapchat.

He was charged with importing class A drugs and admitted the offence at Newcastle Crown Court on July 2 this year. He was sentenced to four years in prison at the same court on December 3.

Drugs smuggled into UK by Marshall Scurfield NCA

NCA branch commander Martin Clarke said: “Marshall Scurfield attempted to import dangerous class A drugs into the UK and thought that by using the postal system he would escape attention from law enforcement.

“Working with our colleagues at Border Force, we were able to prevent a sizeable quantity of ecstasy from making it to our streets, where it would have created exploitation and violence.

“We continue to pursue and dismantle high harm organised crime networks behind smuggling attempts like these.”