A significant drug trafficker from the UK, who tried to bring in £20 million worth of cocaine and ketamine, was apprehended while enjoying himself at the renowned Pacha nightclub in Ibiza.
Eddie Burton, aged 23, had packaged more than 300 kilograms of class A and B drugs in vacuum-sealed bags while staying in an apartment in Amsterdam before the drugs were loaded onto trucks bound for the UK.
Law enforcement officers found 142 kilograms of cocaine and 25 kilograms of heroin concealed in a modified fuel tank at the Dover port.
In February, Burton and his former partner Sian Banks, 25, admitted to a series of drug-related crimes, as reported by Liverpool Echo.
During the court session, Banks was sentenced to five years in prison, while Burton’s sentencing was postponed by Judge Simon Taylor KC due to suspicions of him being a victim of modern slavery.
Burton stood trial alongside his ex-partner at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, where Judge Taylor sentenced Burton to 19 years behind bars.
Living between the Netherlands and Spain since leaving the UK in 2021, Burton was arrested by police at the Pacha nightclub in Ibiza for separate drug-related offenses.
According to NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner, Burton, with assistance from Banks, attempted to smuggle large quantities of harmful drugs into the UK, believing he could evade punishment abroad.
Banks played a pivotal role in the criminal operation, laundering illegal profits and serving as the UK-based facilitator for the multimillion-pound drug imports.
Banks pleaded guilty to seven charges, including drug importation and money laundering, while Burton admitted to four counts of importing class A and B drugs.
Burton’s sentencing was delayed multiple times after he handed a letter to the judge during a court appearance in February, claiming he was coerced to go abroad to settle a debt due to threats against his family.
Upon reviewing the letter, the judge acknowledged possible modern slavery threats and postponed sentencing until all facts were clarified, as Burton was described as a significant figure in a larger criminal network.
In February, Judge Taylor adjourned the sentencing, citing concerns and Burton’s outburst that he had fabricated the contents of the letter, emphasizing the inevitable outcome regardless.
