Customs drops drug case
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• It's been a good week for British drivers fighting drug smuggling charges. As Roy Clarke enjoys his first week of freedom in Spain (see page 6), Southwark Crown Court threw out drug smuggling charges against Michael David Eardley, of European Express Haulage, Croydon. He was charged two years ago with importing Lim worth of cannabis into the UK and faced seven years in prison if convicted.
Eardley, who was stopped with 500kg cannabis hidden in his load of marble from Italy, has always insisted he knew nothing about the drugs.
Customs and Excise withdrew all charges on Monday (16 October) and Eardley was awarded full costs, which his solicitor Michael Goodrich estimates to be around £75,000.
"Other people are now being investigated and my client's innocence has finally been acknowledged," says Goodrich, While on bail Eardley was forbidden to work as an international truck driver, but he will be resuming international work next week.