A cocaine dealer who fancied himself a secret agent, believing he bore a strong resemblance to actor Daniel Craig, was apprehended after his activity on the exercise-tracking app Strava led authorities to his location. Andrew Doran, 42, was a key figure in a plot to smuggle 172 kilograms of cocaine into the United Kingdom from the Netherlands, concealed within gas canisters.
Doran's arrest came after he shared details of a jog in Estepona, Spain, on Strava. This digital footprint, combined with his perceived likeness to the James Bond star, aided the National Crime Agency (NCA) in identifying him. Spanish police arrested Doran, who was subsequently extradited to the UK in October of the previous year.
Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court in December, Doran, originally from Kirkby in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to drug importation charges. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison the following week.
Smuggling Operation
Between October 2019 and April 2020, Doran was involved in a scheme where 12 gas bottles, each containing between 12 and 16 kilograms of cocaine, were transported. Vehicles collected these bottles from various locations in Kent, Northamptonshire, and Peterborough. The total amount of cocaine seized from these canisters exceeded 172 kilograms.
Doran played a significant role in coordinating this operation, maintaining contact with international criminals in the Netherlands and with Kevin Taylor, 44, from Newcastle upon Tyne. He also directed Taylor to manage and transfer drug sale proceeds, both domestically and internationally, to facilitate further importations.
In a separate operation between March and June 2020, Doran also arranged the importation of an additional 42 kilograms of cocaine from the Netherlands. The estimated combined street value of all the cocaine involved in these schemes was £18 million.
Kevin Taylor received a 27-year prison sentence in September 2025 for his involvement.
Law Enforcement Response
NCA branch commander Gavin Heckles stated that Doran held a central position in the smuggling plot, directing associates on the logistics of drug transportation and distribution. Heckles emphasized that Doran's extradition from Spain demonstrates that criminals residing abroad are not beyond the reach of justice.
"Class A drugs like cocaine cause huge amounts of harm to communities across the UK, and create violence and exploitation at every level," Heckles said. "We will continue to work with partners at home and abroad to pursue the criminal networks behind this trade and protect the public."
