Kristopher Purvis carried a bag full of sombreros through Edinburgh Airport, claiming they were the only items he had picked up on his trip.
13:28, 16 Apr 2025Updated 16:28, 16 Apr 2025
Kristopher Purvis
A drug smuggler who arrived in Scotland from Mexico claiming the only souvenirs from his trip were sombreros has been jailed- after authorities discovered a massive cocaine haul in his luggage.
Kristopher Purvis, 35, attempted to carry millions of pounds worth of the class A drug through Edinburgh Airport on July 24, 2024, alongside another man. However, their plan was foiled by Border Force officials who pulled them aside as they attempted to leave.
Both men carried a large suitcase, and made to exit through the airport’s nothing-to-declare channel. A search of the bags found 15 packages of cocaine, with an estimated total street value of £5,640,000.
On Wednesday, April 16, Purvis, who is originally from Durham, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh.
He had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the ban on importing controlled drugs.
A second male was arrested at the time who pleaded not guilty to the above charges. A trial date has been set for the November 10 in relation to his involvement.
Kristopher Purvis was caught with the drugs after arriving at Edinburgh Airport.(Image: Nirian via Getty Images)
Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was a substantial attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland.
“Kristopher Purvis has now been held accountable thanks to an extensive Border Force operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
“With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm that these drugs inflict on communities.
“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.”
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Donnie Lawrie, from the NCA, said: “Kristopher Purvis attempted to appear like an innocuous tourist and claimed to only be carrying sombrero souvenirs. The truth was, the luggage he was carrying contained millions of pounds worth of drugs.
“Purvis was used as a mule for the criminals keen to increase their profits when selling drugs on the streets of the UK. The NCA continues to work closely with UK Border Force, police forces and other law enforcement partners throughout the world to reduce the supply of Class A drugs intended for the UK market.”
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Sands, Police Scotland, said: “This conviction and sentencing serves as yet another example of our ongoing commitment to target the supply and distribution of controlled drugs across Scotland, which remains an absolute priority for the Organised Crime Partnership and its partners.
“This intervention and subsequent detection disrupted an attempt to bring a significant volume of class A controlled drugs into the country.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that information from our local communities is an essential part of our investigations, as we work to disrupt the drugs trade and work with our partners to bring those responsible to justice.”
Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said:
“This was a substantial attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland.
“Kristopher Purvis has now been held accountable thanks to an extensive OCP Scotland and Border Force operation, working with COPFS, to investigate a network of drug supply.
“With each case of this kind we can help reduce the harm that these drugs inflict on communities.
“We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.”
The court heard how Purvis and his companion had arrived in Edinburgh from Mexico, following a layover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
They were stopped by officials in the arrivals hall with their luggage, with Purvis also carrying a plastic bag containing four sombreros, which he claimed were the only items he had acquired on his trip.
Eight vacuum-sealed plastic packages were discovered inside Purvis’s suitcase. After cutting into one, the officer found it contained a second sealed package covered in a foul-smelling yellow liquid, which appeared to be mustard.
The second package contained a white powder. His travelling companion’s case was also searched with a further seven packages containing the Class A drug.
The 15 packages recovered were each found to contain about three kilos of cocaine which had an average purity of 52%. The maximum street value of the total haul was up to £5,640,000.
Purvis was cautioned and replied: “It’s all mine, my mate had nothing to do with it. I put it in his case.”