Transportation belonging to motorsport teams is set to be more thoroughly searched after the discovery of drugs and a handgun on a WSBK truck.
The United Kingdom Border Agency is set to clampdown on all motorsport transportation passing through ports after drugs and a handgun were reportedly found on a lorry belonging to a World Superbike team.
According to the
Telegraph newspaper, the UKBA allegedly found 18lbs (8kg) of cocaine, 157lbs (71kg) of amphetamine tablets and more than 220lbs (100kg) of cannabis, plus a handgun and 35 rounds of ammunition on a lorry affiliated with the Kawasaki Racing Team last month.
UKBA confirmed four members of the Paul Bird Motorsport team had been questioned and bailed pending further enquiries.
The newspaper names them as mechanic and truck driver Philip Roe, 40, truck driver and tyre technician Gary Matthews, 50, mechanic Mattia Fontana, 27 and mechanic Daniel Swyer, 32.
"Two lorries were searched by UK Border Agency officers as they passed through Dover Eastern Docks,” a UKBA spokesman told the newspaper. “Quantities of Class A drugs, Class B drugs and a handgun were discovered.
"Four men, aged 50, 40, 32 and 27 were arrested on suspicion of the importation of controlled drugs and firearm offences. They were questioned and later released on bail pending further enquiries."
The discovery is set to prompt a change of policy regarding the searching of motorsport transporters going through ports, a move that will affect all series', including Formula 1. UKBA is said to rarely pull over motorsport vehicles in the past.
