Border Force Officer Charged in 25kg Heroin Import Conspiracy at Birmingham Airport

A former Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer, Darrin Alexander Roker, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States, providing traffickers with information to evade Bahamian law enforcement, and faces up to 20 years in prison. The conspiracy allegedly involved corrupt officials, including police officers and a government official, facilitating cocaine shipments through Bahamian airports from 2021 to 2024. Separately, Border Force officer Syed Shah, along with two others, Zahida Perveen and Shahid Butt, have been charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs after 25kg of heroin was found in a suitcase at Birmingham Airport. Shah and Butt also face money laundering charges and will appear in Birmingham Magistrates Court. The National Crime Agency led the investigation, highlighting ongoing concerns about corruption and drug importation within law enforcement agencies. These cases underscore significant challenges in combating drug trafficking and corruption in international and UK borders.