A FATHER-of-13 hid £550,000 of heroin in sweet tins which he left behind in a suitcase on an airport baggage carousel.

Mohammed Perwez, 59, was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport after he stepped off a flight from Dubai with his wife.

The pair were allowed to proceed through customs after the three checked-in bags they were carrying were not found to contain prohibited goods.

However, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said Perwez, left a fourth bag on the baggage carousel after seeing uniformed officers at the customs checkpoint.

Three hours later, Border Force officers identified the unclaimed case as belonging to him.

The court heard two large red tins labelled ‘Jamil sweets’ were recovered from the suitcase on May 9.

Inside officers found 5.4kg of heroin in paste form hidden under a layer of ghee sweets.

The NCA said if it had been cut and sold in East Lancashire, the class A drug would have a potential street value of £550,000.

Perwez was arrested by NCA officers, assisted by the police, at his home in Pendle Street, Accrington three days later.

He pleaded guilty to the importation of class A drugs and was sentenced on Friday to five years and four months behind bars at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Rob Miles, from the NCA, said: “This was a very significant amount of heroin, which was undoubtedly destined for the streets of East Lancashire.

“We’re responsible for all the airports and ports in the North West and I would estimate on average we seize this volume of Class A about once a month.

“The vigilance of border officers led to this seizure and it illustrates that those who try and bring in drugs from overseas can expect long jail sentences.

“It also demonstrates that even if culprits dump their drugs after landing but before going through customs they will still be brought to justice.”

Perwez had previously been jailed for five years in February 2006 after being caught with heroin worth £44,000.

At that time he pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and possessing the drug with intent to supply.

In that case police found Perwez passing on hard drugs on eight occasions at various locations throughout Accrington.

When police searched his home they found 383grammes of heroin, weighing scales, cellophane bags and a food blender, all of which had traces of heroin.

Former Blackburn CID detective Tony Ford, who now co-ordinates East Lancashire’s neighbourhood watch schemes said the airport seizure would effect the supply of drugs on the street.

He said: “The significance of this seizure cannot be underestimated.

“The link between drugs and crime is well proven.

“Much of our community crime such as burglary and car crime is fuelled by the drugs trade.

“The seizure will have a significant impact on the availability of drugs on our streets and may lead to more users turning to rehabilitation and other support services.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones hailed the work of border officers in preventing the drugs hitting the streets.

He said: “This significant seizure illustrates the importance of a well resourced and vigilant Border service.

“We should protect their numbers and give them all the resources possible to keep out these harmful drugs.

“There have been major breakthroughs tackling the supply of heroin in Hyndburn recently with community intelligence leading to high profile raids and those involved brought before the courts.

“This is another similar success.”