A man has been jailed for 16 years for his part in a multimillion pound drug importation ring.

Michael Richardson, from South Norwood, was found guilty of his part in the importation of £3m of cocaine from Barbados on Tuesday at the Inner London Crown Court.

The 39-year-old checked two cocaine laden bags in on a Gatwick bound flight on March 17.

He then picked up the suitcases from the baggage carousel and took them to a BMW waiting for him.

Once in London, Richardson went to the house of fellow crook, Christopher Grocott.

Detectives searched Grocott's home address where both Grocott and Richardson were arrested.

Grocott's response to arrest was: "How did you know we were here?" and Richardson said: "It's all down to me."

Both were found in possession of matching silver keys, later confirmed as keys to unlock the red, drugs-laden suitcase.

During interview Grocott gave a prepared written statement which read: "My cousin Michael Richardson came back from holiday and told me he had drugs in his case.

“I told him I didn't want them in my flat, but I decided to help him by hiding them for a short time.”

Both were charged with fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of class A controlled drugs and later stood trial for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely 21 kilos of cocaine.