2008/10/11

Adam Szendzielorz, of Essendon, and accomplice James Puentes, both 28, have each been sentenced to 10 years.They were caught after customs officers intercepted a kilo postal-package of the drug. It was addressed to a lavishly kitted out North London council flat the pair used as a base.They had arranged for the £86,000 parcel to be sent from Costa Rica. But it was intercepted in May at London's Mount Pleasant postal depot. Police swapped the contents with baby powder, and officers posed as couriers to deliver it to the flat. Puentes answered the door and Szendzielorz arrived minutes later.The men, sporting £6,000 worth of of Rolex watches between them, were arrested as they left the flat. Officers found another £10,000 worth of cocaine.The flat, sublet from a council tenant, was kitted out with a plasma television, iPod docks and a tropical fish tank, and there was £300 worth of Champagne stashed in the fridge. Szendzielorz, who has not paid tax for nine years, was carrying a rucksack with around £5,000 of cocaine stuffed inside.The new delivery was found unopened inside the property, and a further £4,500 of the drug was found in a draw in Puentes' bedroom, along with £600 cash and Puentes' Spanish passport.The pair, who have no previous relevant convictions, attended St Aloysius School in Highgate together.But Szendzielorz developed a cocaine habit after his mother died in early 2005.John Hunter, defending, said Szendzielorz took up dealing to fund a drug habit which he developed after his mother died in 2005.Szendzielorz, of Glebe Close, Essendon, and Puentes, of Kentish Town, north London, each denied importing cocaine.Szendzielorz denied converting criminal property but admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply in respect of the £10,000 cocaine haul.Puentes denied possessing and converting criminal property and possession with intent.They were convicted of all charges at Blackfriars Crown Court last month. Sentencing them last Thursday, judge Miss Recorder Joanna Korner QC, said: "Both of you have been engaged together in drug dealing for some time, certainly for a period of at least a year.

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