A CORRUPT agency worker at the Port of Tilbury, who helped import cocaine worth £114million from South America, has been jailed for 14 years and five months.

Michael Fowler, 60, from Stanford-le-Hope, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers after an investigation into a number of drug importations which went through the port between January and July 2015.

Fowler admitted assisting offenders to import or supply cocaine and was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court.

Four consignments were intercepted by NCA, Border Force and the police, leading to the recovery of more than three-quarters of a tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of £114million.

Fowler acted as a go-between, informing a “collection team” when a container which he knew held consignments of cocaine had arrived at the port.

The containers had usually been shipped from South America.

After the tip-off from Fowler, the team gained unauthorised entry to the port and recovered the drugs from the containers for onward distribution.

The final importation attempt took place in the early hours of July 21, 2015. On that occasion a team working with Fowler’s son-in-law, Danny O’Sullivan, entered the port unaware that they were under NCA surveillance. They were arrested by officers from Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service as they drove away from the port, and 194kg cocaine was seized. Four men, including O’Sullivan, were later convicted and sentenced to a total of 57 years in prison.

NCA branch commander Jacque Beer said: “Fowler used his position to enable serious breaches of port security. He played a crucial role in bringing cocaine into the UK. This case shows we have the capabilities to track and stop corrupt insiders, and I hope it sends out a message to others who would consider getting involved in this type of criminality.”