Parmesan wheel hides cocaine worth £800k

An American traveler was stopped at Heathrow with an 8kg hollow wheel of parmesan containing cocaine and later jailed.

Parmesan wheel hides cocaine worth £800k and a five-year sentence

Jamie Choi, 23, from California, was stopped at Heathrow while trying to enter the UK on May 25 after arriving from Brazil with an 8kg hollow wheel of parmesan. A subsequent examination revealed 94 percent pure cocaine inside the wheel, giving it an estimated street value of about £800,000.

National Crime Agency investigators traced Choi’s travel route across South America, from Los Angeles to Lima on May 20, then through Asuncion, Paraguay, before a change in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and on to London. Choi pleaded guilty to importing Class A drugs at Isleworth Crown Court on August 6 and was sentenced to five years and three months in prison. The case followed another trafficking episode in Bali where three Britons avoided the death penalty after cocaine was found in Angel Delight packets, underscoring the global reach of drug networks and the risks of cross-border smuggling.

This incident shows how smugglers still exploit everyday objects to hide illegal cargo, pushing border agencies to stay alert to clever disguises. The usable, everyday nature of the concealment highlights a persistent challenge for security teams who must balance routine checks with targeted investigations.

The journey from Los Angeles through multiple South American hubs to London illustrates how international travel networks can complicate enforcement. The investigation also underlines how personal notes and travel records can become critical clues, weaving together a travel diary with a crime narrative. Reporting on cases like this should stay precise and avoid sensational framing that trivializes the risks of drug trafficking, while underscoring that penalties for importing illegal drugs remain severe and certain.

Highlights

Borders stay vigilant as travel patterns evolve.