A MAN accused of importing heroin with a street value of more than �7.5million through Felixstowe docks was snared during a covert operation, a court heard.

Gulab Mohammed, of Small Heath, Birmingham, was arrested at an industrial unit in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

The premises were believed to be the final destination for bags of chilli powder with 76kg of heroin hidden inside, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

Mohammed, 50, denies fraudulent evasion of the prohibition of the importation of heroin.

The court heard Gulab, his son Khalid – who pleaded guilty to the same charge in April – and three other men, travelled in a convoy of hire cars with a lorry transporting the bags of chilli powder with heroin hidden inside.

The jury was told records from a phone belonging to Gulab, which was seized by officers, showed dozens of calls made by the defendant to his son, and a number in Pakistan – where the drugs were imported from – in the weeks before the raid on November 12 last year.

In the days before the raid, UK Border Agency officers discovered the heroin after carrying out checks at Felixstowe port after problems with the paperwork for the load, the court heard.

Mr David Jackson, prosecuting, said: “This man’s son, Khalid Mohammed, rented an industrial unit in Whitchurch.

“The defendant and his son went out to visit the place to see if it was useful.

“They agreed a price and took out a lease, which was made with a false name and a false address.”

The court heard Khalib also organised for a haulage company to transport the containment of 600 sacks of chilli powder from Felixstowe to Birmingham.

The container was then taken in convoy from Birmingham to Whitchurch at about noon on November 12, the court heard.

“At about 5pm Gulab turned up to the unit in Whitchurch in a Mercedes hire car,” added Mr Jackson.

Officers went to the unit and made several arrests, later charging Khalib and the defendant.

“He (Gulab) told police he didn’t know of any drugs and not only that, he didn’t know of any unit and hadn’t been there previously.

“He said he had driven to Whitchurch to look for cars when he had received a call asking him to go to it.

“He was arrested in the process of putting on a pair of disposable gloves.

“He was not just a bystander. The only explanation is he was actively involved.”

The trial continues.