Man jailed for attempting to import 29,000 skull-shaped ecstasy tablets into UK via Snapchat deal

3 December 2024, 12:31 | Updated: 3 December 2024, 13:51

A man who attempted to import almost 30,000 skull-shaped ecstasy tablets into the UK in a deal arranged over Snapchat has been jailed for four years.

Marshall Scurfield, 22, was snared by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after Border Force officers intercepted the parcel at Birmingham Airport.

The NCA said the package - sent from the Netherlands - contained 29,000 green tablets which later tested positive for MDMA and had an estimated street value of £140,000.

A dummy parcel was sent to Scurfield's then address in Hebburn, South Tyneside, with police moving in once he was observed accepting the goods.

Scurfield, who was arrested on 25 February 2022, claimed he had agreed to accept the parcel to settle a drugs debt and arrangements for its delivery had been made using Snapchat.

He was charged with importing class A drugs and admitted the offence at Newcastle Crown Court in July.

Scurfield, of Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, was jailed on Tuesday.

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NCA branch commander Martin Clarke said: "Marshall Scurfield attempted to import dangerous class A drugs into the UK and thought that by using the postal system he would escape attention from law enforcement.

"Working with our colleagues at Border Force, we were able to prevent a sizeable quantity of ecstasy from making it to our streets, where it would have created exploitation and violence.

"We continue to pursue and dismantle high harm organised crime networks behind smuggling attempts like these."

(c) Sky News 2024: Man jailed for attempting to import 29,000 skull-shaped ecstasy tablets into UK via Snapchat deal