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Authorities have uncovered a significant heroin shipment hidden inside cartons of pomegranate juice, with the National Crime Agency (NCA) confirming the seizure involved over £20 million worth of the drug. The operation led to the sentencing of a father and son duo from Birmingham, Colin Bartlett, aged 54, and his 30-year-old son Lee Bartlett. Both were involved in an organized crime group responsible for importing heroin concealed within the juice from Afghanistan.
The discovery was made in May 2023, when officials recovered more than 420 kilograms of heroin from a shipping container located in Birmingham. The container contained 2.6 tonnes of pomegranate juice bottles, with the illicit substance cleverly mixed into the liquid and interspersed among genuine products. Colin Bartlett received a 24-month prison sentence suspended for two years, while Lee Bartlett was sentenced to 18 months, also suspended for the same duration.
During the investigation, the NCA detained the Bartletts as they unloaded the shipment. The pair were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court in August 2025 for their roles in the criminal enterprise, although they were acquitted of conspiracy related to evading controlled drug importation laws. Additionally, eleven workers who assisted with the unloading were arrested but later cleared of involvement in the drug smuggling conspiracy.
The NCA continues to seek two other suspects tied to the case. Shamut Khan, 56, and Matiullah Zamankhel, 23, both from Birmingham’s Washwood Heath area, remain wanted after failing to appear for bail in November 2023. NCA Branch Commander Derek Evans emphasized the seriousness of the crime: “These men were part of an organised crime group seeking to import huge quantities of heroin into the UK, potentially generating millions of pounds of criminal profit and endangering vulnerable people across the country.” He called on the public to assist in locating the fugitives, warning that aiding them could lead to further arrests
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