Sniffer dog foils cannabis smuggling plot as Co Antrim man jailed after NCA investigation

A County Antrim man who attempted to smuggle cannabis worth £64,000 into Northern Ireland concealed inside a makeshift workbench has been sentenced following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

William Stewart, 46, living in Crumlin, was stopped by Border Force officers when he arrived in Belfast from Aldershot in October 2024. He had travelled by ferry in his transit van.

During a search of the vehicle, a sniffer dog indicated the presence of drugs. Officers then discovered a stack of tyres concealing a custom-built wooden workbench in the rear of the van.

When the bench was unscrewed, 16 vacuum-packed packages containing approximately 18 kilograms of cannabis were found hidden inside.

Stewart initially denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming he had not been given anything to transport. However, he later pleaded guilty at Belfast Laganside Court in September 2025 to possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

He was sentenced today (5 November) at the same court to 18 months’ imprisonment.

David Cunningham, NCA Belfast Branch Commander, said:

“Stewart made every effort to avoid detection, concealing the drugs behind a stack of tyres and within a custom-made work bench.

“These drugs would have ended up on the streets of Northern Ireland and their profits would have been used for further criminality.

“Working with our partners in Border Force, the NCA is committed to pursuing those who are determined to smuggle illegal drugs into the UK.”

The National Crime Agency works in partnership with Border Force and other agencies to disrupt organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking, ensuring illegal substances are intercepted before they reach UK communities.