Michael Joseph Melia,Simon Anthony Melia

father and son were jailed for 10 and 12 years respectively for smuggling two kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £80,000 into the UK and for possession with intent to supply.
The Court heard that Michael Melia was stopped by HMRC officers on the 10th March 2007 at the UK Control Zone in Coquelles, France. Melia was alone at the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee and wanted officers to believe he had been simply been buying beer. On being told that he would be subject to a body search Melia raised his jumper to reveal two packages taped to his torso. The packages contained two kilos of cocaine.
Melia was arrested and he gave an address of Ashford, Kent.
Officers searching the premises found two bags of white powder under the kitchen sink which tested positive for amphetamine sulphate. Simon Melia arrived at the house during the search and informed officers that there was a further small quantity of cocaine hidden in a safe under the bed. Approximately 101 grammes of amphetamine sulphate and 2.4 grammes of cocaine were recovered from the house.
Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Chief Investigation Officer for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said:
"HM Revenue & Customs is at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK. Our commitment is to do everything we can to stop this deadly trade. The sentence handed down by the court today will act as a deterrent to those involved in drug trafficking and clearly shows that crime doesn't pay. "
On sentencing Michael Melia HH Honour Judge Nash said:" "It was a substantial quantity and you were caught red handed. There was no alternative to a guilty plea."
1. Michael Joseph Melia, 59, unemployed of Ashford, was jailed for 10 years for importing cocaine, four years for possession of cocaine with intent to supply and two years for possession with intent to supply Amphetamine, all sentences to run concurrently.
2. Simon Anthony Melia, 32, painter and decorator, also of Ashford, was jailed for 12 years for importing cocaine, four years for possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and two years for possession of Amphetamine with intent to supply, all sentences to run concurrently.