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Cocaine smuggler cricketer guilty Cocaine smuggler cricketer guilty
(10 minutes later)
Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Britain.Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Britain.
He carried it into the country in his cricket bag on a flight from St Lucia but was stopped at Gatwick Airport, a jury at Croydon Crown Court heard.He carried it into the country in his cricket bag on a flight from St Lucia but was stopped at Gatwick Airport, a jury at Croydon Crown Court heard.
Cans of fruit and vegetable juice seized by officials last December were found to contain dissolved cocaine with a street value of more than £140,000.Cans of fruit and vegetable juice seized by officials last December were found to contain dissolved cocaine with a street value of more than £140,000.
The jury is continuing to deliberate on his co-accused Chad Kirnon.The jury is continuing to deliberate on his co-accused Chad Kirnon.
Lewis, 41, of Bruce Road in Brent, north London, had denied the charge, claiming to have been on an innocent holiday in St Lucia.Lewis, 41, of Bruce Road in Brent, north London, had denied the charge, claiming to have been on an innocent holiday in St Lucia.
Mr Kirnon, 27, a former basketball player of Carnegie Street, Islington, north London, was stopped by customs officers after returning to the UK on the same flight as Lewis, on 8 December.Mr Kirnon, 27, a former basketball player of Carnegie Street, Islington, north London, was stopped by customs officers after returning to the UK on the same flight as Lewis, on 8 December.
Cigarette papersCigarette papers
Giving evidence in his defence at his trial, Lewis had said he did not even know cocaine could be converted into a liquid form.Giving evidence in his defence at his trial, Lewis had said he did not even know cocaine could be converted into a liquid form.
He insisted he had no idea there were drugs in his cricket bag until he was stopped at the airport, saying he thought he was carrying fruit juice.He insisted he had no idea there were drugs in his cricket bag until he was stopped at the airport, saying he thought he was carrying fruit juice.
He also rejected allegations that he had admitted smuggling cocaine on several previous occasions.He also rejected allegations that he had admitted smuggling cocaine on several previous occasions.
The court heard customs officers seized five tins of juice stashed inside Lewis's Puma cricket bag, which were found to contain a brown liquid which smelt of chemicals and turned out to be 100% pure cocaine.The court heard customs officers seized five tins of juice stashed inside Lewis's Puma cricket bag, which were found to contain a brown liquid which smelt of chemicals and turned out to be 100% pure cocaine.
Traces of cannabis residue were also found in his luggage on a silver grinder on cigarette papers, which were tucked into a paperback book. Traces of cannabis residue were also found in his luggage on a silver grinder and on cigarette papers, which were tucked into a paperback book.
Lewis had stated he was travelling alone and that he had packed his luggage himself.Lewis had stated he was travelling alone and that he had packed his luggage himself.
Judge Nicholas Ainley adjourned sentencing and asked jurors to continue with their deliberations in the case of Kirnon. Judge Nicholas Ainley adjourned sentencing and asked jurors to continue with their deliberations in the case of Mr Kirnon.
All-rounder Lewis, who was born in Guyana, played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England.All-rounder Lewis, who was born in Guyana, played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England.
He played county cricket for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey before retiring with a persistent hip injury in 2000, though he rejoined Surrey in 2008 to play in the Twenty20 tournament.He played county cricket for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey before retiring with a persistent hip injury in 2000, though he rejoined Surrey in 2008 to play in the Twenty20 tournament.