The factual background
3.In 2011 the Applicant worked as a lorry driver and mechanic for the Kawasaki Motorcycling team. The team was based in Penrith and was owned by Paul Bird Motorsports. The Kawasaki Motorcycling team sent two lorries to attend a race meeting in Assen, Holland. On 18 April 2011 the lorries were returning to the UK through the port of Dover. One lorry registered “3MX” was driven by the Applicant. The other lorry registration “B9RDY” was driven by Mr Gary Matthews.4.At about 7.30pm on 18 April 2011 both vehicles were stopped by the UK Border Force Agency and were searched. Nothing untoward was found during the search of the “3MX” lorry driven by the Applicant. The other lorry “B9RDY” contained an area converted into an office. During the search of the office area of “B9RDY” UK Border Force Agents discovered a significant amount of controlled drugs: approximately 7kgs of cocaine (count 1), MDMA in the form of 250,000 ecstasy tablets (count 2), 19kgs of skunk cannabis (count 3) and 78kgs of cannabis resin (count 4). The drugs had a street value of between £2 million to £2.5 million. A handgun was also discovered in Mr Matthews’ lorry (count 5). It was analysed and found to be a weapon that had been modified to fire live ammunition. The firearm was found with 35 live bullets (count 6).