A prominent drug trafficker in the UK, Eddie Burton, was apprehended while reveling at the renowned Pacha nightclub in Ibiza after attempting to smuggle cocaine and ketamine worth £20 million.
Burton, 23, had concealed more than 300kg of class A and B substances in vacuum-sealed packs in an Amsterdam residence before they were transported to the UK on lorries. Subsequently, law enforcement uncovered 142kg of cocaine and 25kg of heroin concealed in a modified fuel tank at the Dover port.
Both Burton and his former partner, Sian Banks, 25, admitted to various drug-related crimes in a report by Liverpool Echo. While Banks received a five-year prison term, Burton’s sentencing was postponed by Judge Simon Taylor KC on suspicion of him being a victim of modern slavery.
At a trial in Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Taylor ultimately sentenced Burton to 19 years in prison. Burton, who had been residing between the Netherlands and Spain after leaving the UK in 2021, was arrested by authorities for separate drug dealing offenses at the Pacha nightclub in Ibiza.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner stated, “Burton, aided by Banks, endeavored to smuggle substantial quantities of harmful drugs into the UK, assuming he could act with impunity abroad. Banks played a pivotal role in the criminal operation, laundering illicit proceeds and serving as the UK-based facilitator for the multi-million pound drug imports.”
Banks pleaded guilty to seven charges, including drug importation and money laundering. Judge Taylor remarked on the seriousness of their involvement in cross-border criminal activities. Burton later confessed to importing class A and B drugs and cited threats against his family as reasons for his actions, leading to multiple sentencing delays.
Concerns of modern slavery raised during Burton’s court appearance prompted further investigation before sentencing was finalized. Burton’s outburst in court about the letter and its contents indicated a complex situation, prompting the judge to adjourn sentencing for a thorough evaluation of the facts.
