The judicial panel, the highest court of England, decided it would amount to the crimes of attempted dealing in and harbouring a controlled drug, with intent to evade the prohibition of importation of the same.
On 30 November 1982, acting on instructions, the appellant went to Southall station to deliver a package of substance to a third party.
At the appellant's flat in Cambridge, he produced to customs officers the suitcase from which the lining had been ripped out and the remaining packages of the same powdered substance.
In answer to questions by customs officers and in a long written statement the appellant made what amounted to a full confession of having played his part, as described, as recipient and distributor of illegally imported drugs.
In due course the powdered substance in the several packages was scientifically analysed and found not to be a controlled drug but snuff or some similar harmless vegetable matter.