Missing contraband 'was cocaine'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7149476.stm

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Contraband that went missing from a secure lock-up after being seized by customs officers was cocaine, it has been revealed.

Police were called in after 1.5kg (3.3lbs) of the drug went missing from a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) depot near to Coventry airport.

Acting chairman of HMRC David Hartnett told MPs he would be "very worried" if the drugs had been stolen.

Warwickshire Police confirmed they were investigating the disappearance.

Mr Hartnett said he did not know what had happened to the cocaine and had not ruled out the possibility that it could have been sent to be destroyed, to a court for evidence or to a laboratory.

I am very concerned about what has happened in Coventry David Hartnett, HMRC

He told the public accounts committee that less than 10 people would have had passwords for the lock-up.

Mr Hartnett, who was also answering questions about the loss by HMRC of millions of child benefit claimants' details, added that the loss of the drugs was a "complete one-off" and not evidence of any systemic failure.

He said: "I am very concerned about what has happened in Coventry.

"All I know is that an amount of cocaine - 1.5kg - is missing from the place it should be in a secure lock-up.

"What I don't know at the minute is whether this cocaine has been sent for destruction, or to a court or to a forensic science laboratory and the paperwork has not been done properly or it has been stolen.

"I am very worried if it is the latter."

HMRC has said that security has been stepped up and investigations are continuing into the disappearance.