Irish Times
Thursday, September 25, 1997

Drugs smuggler jailed for 14 years

Drugs trafficker, David Huck, was described as "a buccaneer" by the
British judge who yesterday gave him a 14year sentence for his part in
a cannabis smuggling plot. Eight people involved in the plot to bring
more than £10 million sterling of cannabis resin into Britain were given
jail terms totalling 82 years.

Judge Sean Overend at Exeter Crown Court imposed the longest sentence,
14 years, on Huck (51), of no fixed address.

He skippered the yacht Fata Morgana, which attempted to bring to Britain
up to four tonnes of cannabis resin.

The judge said that Huck, a selfconfessed cigarette smuggler, had now
added cannabis to his list.

He had no doubt he was a major player in the "massive, professional
drugrunning exercise".

Huck stood to gain a substantial profit, and possibly the 40foot yacht
itself, from the operation, said the judge.

He said there was no mitigation in his case, and added: "Without your
knowledge of the sea and of smuggling, and your ability to sail yachts
across the oceans, none of this would have been possible."

Huck was appearing for sentence with three others convicted with him on
Monday after a trial lasting more than two months.

All had denied a charge of conspiring to smuggle cannabis resin into the
UK between November 1995 and October 1996.

In the dock with them yesterday were four others who had previously
admitted the charge.

All apart from Huck received sentences ranging from eight to 10 years.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of the yacht.