Ex-England player Chris Lewis in court over drug smuggling
Chris Lewis played 32 Tests for England
Also In The News
|
Goals from Ledley King and a late Jamie O'Hara strike gave Tottenham a 2-0 derby win over West Ham at Upton Park. |  |
Tuesday, 09, Dec 2008 12:00
Former England cricketer Chris Lewis is appearing in court today after his arrest in relation to a £200,000 drug seizure at Gatwick airport.
Lewis, 40, of Bruce Road, London, was arrested after nearly 4kg of cocaine was found in luggage by UK Border Agency staff on a flight from St Lucia in the Caribbean yesterday.
He is expected to appear at Crawley magistrates court later today alongside basketball player Chad Kirnon. Both have been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK.
The drugs were found in solution in fruit tins.
"This was an excellent detection by UK Border Agency officers," HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Gatwick spokesman Bob Gaiger said.
"HMRC together with UKBA play a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this hideous trade."
Lewis appeared for England in 32 Test matches, taking 93 wickets at 37.52 and averaging 23.02 with the bat.
He struggled to establish his place in the side, however, and many regarded him as an outsider. Succumbing to sunstroke after shaving his head in the Caribbean was among the unfortunate episodes which marked his international career.
Lewis had attempted to make a comeback in Twenty20 cricket for Surrey earlier this year but injury prevented him making a real impact.