DRUGS TRAFFICKER POSED AS JET PILOT

A DRUG trafficker who dressed as an airline pilot to smooth his passage
through customs was jailed for 10 years yesterday for his involvement in
deals valued at 5.8 million pounds.

Robert McLean, 49, had a false Civil Aviation Authority identification
card, wore a pilot's uniform and carried a briefcase, maps and headphones
when passing through airports. Known as Capt Bob McLean to his relatives
and friends, he lived in a 500,000 pounds home at Ringwood, Hants, and
owned three flats in the exclusive harbourside area of Poole, Dorset.

An undercover inquiry into his activities began after he stood 1 million
pounds surety for a man involved in separate criminal proceedings.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that after a two-month surveillance
operation, a police raid uncovered 16lb of cannabis in his garage.
Documents discovered in the house linked him to consignments of almost two
tons of the drug, with a street value of millions of pounds.

McLean denied six charges of possessing cannabis and one count of supplying
the drug, but was convicted by a jury following a three-week trial. He
pleaded guilty to seven further charges of false accounting and deception
to obtain loans and a mortgage by pretending to be an airline pilot. Judge
Samuel Wiggs praised the police investigation and told McLean: "From the
evidence of your lifestyle I have no doubt that you were a major drug dealer."

Outside court, Det Sgt Paul Read of the National Crime Squad said: "This
man was drug trafficking at the top level. We regard him as the most
significant drug trafficker arrested in this area for some time. McLean and
his family were living one of the most lavish and luxurious lifestyles I
have encountered since I became a police officer."