A builder from South Norwood was caught trying to smuggle almost £100,000 of cannabis into the country through Heathrow Airport.

Christopher Dawson, 52, of Selhurst Road was arrested yesterday by UK Border Agency officers on after they found 30kg of the drug in his luggage.

He had arrived into Heathrow Terminal 3 on a flight from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Dawson appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates today charged with attempting to import controlled drugs. He pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody until Friday March 4, when he is due to appear before Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing.

Graeme Kyle, UKBA Heathrow director, said: "UK Border Agency officers at Heathrow are on constant alert to keep drugs and other banned substances out of the UK.

“Our most important weapon in the fight against drug smuggling is intelligence. I would urge anyone with information that might be useful to the UK Border Agency to phone our hotline on 0800 59 5000. ”