A visitor to Britain swallowed 73 packets of cocaine weighing a kilo in an attempt to smuggle drugs worth around �140,000 through London City Airport in the Royal Docks.

Ikechukwu Lambert Eze, 37, was stopped by UK Border Agency staff on August 31, leading to the discovery of the cocaine.

The Nigerian was sentenced to seven years in jail at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, October 21, having previously admitted drug-smuggling charges.

Eze was questioned on his arrival from Cameroon via Zurich after officers checking baggage became suspicious of the reasons he gave for his journey.

He started to behave nervously when it was suggested that he had swallowed packages.

He was taken to Newham General Hospital, Plaistow, and X-rayed which revealed the packages of drugs inside him.

The cocaine eventually recovered had a purity of 91 per cent and an estimated street value of �140,000.

Peter Avery, assistant director for UK Border Agency criminal and financial investigations, said: “The concealment technique used by this individual shows the lengths to which some people will go in attempt to avoid detection by our officers.

“This drugs seizure shows the robust controls we have in place at our ports and airports.”