Two pensioners have been convicted of possessing more than £250,000 worth of cannabis resin after the smell of rotting chicken led police to their haul.
A total of 267kg of the drug was found an at an industrial unit in Laindon, Essex, rented by Michael Kinkaid, 72, of Broad Oaks, Wickford, and Anthony Wright, 76, to store chicken imported from Spain.
The drugs had been smuggled from Spain alongside the frozen poultry but the sealed wraps of resin had not been cleaned properly, leaving traces of chicken on the packs.
Neighbouring businesses found the smell so offending, they contacted the police as they believed a rotting body may have been inside the unit.
Officers forced entry into the unit on November 27, 2013, and found 89 blocks of cannabis resin - worth about £267,000 - hidden under polythene sheeting.
Former police officer, jewellery shop owner and HGV driver Kinkaid and Wright, a retired meat dealer, were later arrested by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
The pair denied any involvement in the importation of drugs but were found guilty of possessing cannabis with intent to supply after a six-day trial which ended at Southend Crown Court on Monday.
Detective Constable Bob Evans said the two men were caught because they failed to clean the sealed packs after they were separated from the frozen chickens.
He added: “As the smell became worse other business in the area became concerned and reported an odour of what was described as rotting flesh coming from the unit.
“Attending officers confirmed that the smell coming from the unit was 'dreadful' and entry was forced to the unit due to a concern for life.
“The resin was contained within heat sealed packages and appeared to be covered in a blood-like detritus.
“This investigation involved the assistance of both the National Crime Agency and UK Border Force resulting in enquires being carried out at both a national and international level.
"During the course of the investigation both Kinkaid and Wright through some form of misguided loyalty failed to identify other parties involved in the importation of these drugs.”
Kinkaid and Wright will be sentenced on November 24.
