Prison term for airport drug mule

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A Mexican drug mule who used his family as cover to smuggle a huge haul of cocaine into Edinburgh has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Noe Machado, 40, was caught with nearly £1m worth of the drug at Edinburgh Airport after claiming he was on a trip to celebrate his son's birthday.

Machado flew in with his wife and four children but was stopped by customs officers for a random check.

Machado earlier admitted the illegal importation on 10 November 2008.

X-rays of luggage detected packages and a total of 16 kilos of the class A drug were recovered - the biggest single haul of cocaine in the Lothian area.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "On any view this was a massive haul of a dangerous drug worth almost £1m at street level."

He particularly regrets that he clearly involved his family in this whole enterprise John KeenanDefence solicitor advocate

Lord Uist told Machado that he would have jailed him for seven years for the crime, but it would be reduced following his guilty plea.

He said: "You came here from Mexico via Paris with your wife and children.

"This was clearly a well-planned drugs smuggling operation and it is obvious that the family group was intended as a cover for the transport of drugs.

"Fortunately you were stopped by customs officers and so the drugs never got onto the streets here to do the damage which they undoubtedly would have done."

The court was told first offender Machado, who ran a tortilla shop business in his home country, had got into financial troubles.

But the judge added: "You had your own small business in Mexico and that has recently come under financial pressure, which may explain why you smuggled cocaine into this country.

"It is my duty to pass a sentence which will not only punish you for the crime, but will also deter others who may be minded to smuggle large quantities of drugs into this country."

'Help with money'

Advocate depute Morag Jack said: "The accused indicated to police that the reason for the trip to the UK was to celebrate his son's birthday.

"He told police that the trip had been recommended by someone in Mexico who had indicated he could help with money for the journey."

Machado said the man provided him with suitcases but at that stage he denied any knowledge of the drugs.

Defence solicitor advocate John Keenan said Machado accepted he had been in possession of drugs but had "no idea of the value of the drugs involved".

Mr Keenan said: "It is quite apparent he has been used at the instigation of others. He particularly regrets that he clearly involved his family in this whole enterprise."

The defence lawyer said prison in Scotland presented extra problems for Machado, who speaks virtually no English.

Machado's wife and children have returned to Mexico and it was "highly unlikely" he would see them while in jail, he said.