7/7 firefighter Simon Ford jailed for drug smuggling

A firefighter commended for his work in the 7 July London bombings has been jailed for 14 years for smuggling 110kg of cocaine into the UK.

Simon Ford, 41, was one of 33 people convicted for being part of a drugs and money laundering operation.
It followed a series of raids by police on properties in London, Surrey, Kent and Hertfordshire in 2008.
Ford was jailed last year but reporting restrictions were imposed while 16 related trials were concluded.
Southwark Crown Court heard the operation was run out of Royal Oak Taxis in Paddington, west London, an outwardly legitimate firm that rented and repaired black cabs.
But behind the scenes was a massive operation for organised crime networks, estimated to have laundered between £70m and £80m.
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