The wife of a former European show-jumping champion has admitted her part in smuggling £2m of cocaine in a consignment of asparagus.

Patricia McMahon, 50, of Church Lane, Fringford, near Bicester, was second only to the 'Mr Big' of a gang who imported the drugs into this country from Peru.

She has yet to appear at Isleworth Crown Court, West London, where her co-defendants are being tried. But prosecutor Nigel Ingram told the jury she had pleaded guilty to conspiring with them between July 1997 and July 1998 to illegally import the Class A drug.

McMahon is married to Paddy McMahon, who is now a horse breeder and friend of Princess Anne.

Five other men have denied the conspiracy charge. They were all arrested on July 19 when Operation Cosmos was sprung by a customs team. "The cocaine was concealed in a consignment of asparagus which arrived at Heathrow Airport and which originated in Peru," said Mr Ingram. "This importation of 16.96 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value here of £2,173,972 was organised by Mr Big, who was assisted by Patricia McMahon.

The day the consignment arrived, McMahon was seen with Mr Big at La Brasserie in Chelsea.

Two other defendants were filmed loading the boxes into a Range Rover while three others gathered at a caravan in Hurley Farm, near Henley- on-Thames.

Just after midnight customs officers raided the caravan, arresting the trio and videoing "all the paraphernalia of weighing, packing and sending the stuff on its way", said Mr Ingram.

The trial continues.

Story date: Friday 19 February

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