Billionaire's drugs let off

A London billionaire and his wife caught with class A drugs have had all charges against them dropped, a court was told today.

Hans Kristian Rausing, 45, and his wife Eva, 44, were arrested in April after Mrs Rausing tried to smuggle small amounts of crack cocaine and heroin into a reception at the US embassy in Grosvenor Square.

Police then searched their £5 million Chelsea home and more drugs were found.

Mr Rausing, heir to the £5.4billion Tetra Pak cartons empire, was charged with possessing
5.63grams of crack cocaine, 2.9g of heroin and 52g of cocaine. Mrs Rausing faced charges of possessing Class A and Class C drugs.

But at City of Westminster magistrates' court today, prosecutor Martha Godwin said charges were being dropped. Instead, the couple will have to go to Charing Cross police station where they will be cautioned by an officer.

In a statement today, Mr Rausing's parents said they were supporting the couple in their fight to overcome drug addiction. It read: "The Rausing family are deeply saddened by Hans K's and Eva's situation, and the events leading up to their court appearance today. We hope with all our hearts that Hans K and Eva can overcome their addiction and we continue to do what we can to help."

The couple will have to formally admit the offences when they are cautioned. It is understood police originally wanted to issue the couple with a caution because of the small amount of drugs found on them, deemed to be for personal use, and because it was their first offence.

However, it was a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service duty lawyer to charge them at the time. When they first appeared in court the CPS had changed its mind.

Philip Smith, representing the Rausings, said there had been considerable correspondence between him and the CPS which resulted in this "very sensible decision". Neither of the Rausings was required to attend the two-minute hearing.

District Judge Timothy Workman said that when the case returns to court on 12 August the charges will be discontinued. He renewed bail for the defendants.

After they were charged Mrs Rausing issued a statement apologising for the "upset we have caused" and thanking friends and family for standing by them.

The family's wealth was created by Mr Rausing's grandfather who founded the largest packing company in the world. Mr Rausing's Swedish-born father Ruben, 82, has homes in Barbados, Sweden and Wadhurst, East Sussex, where he collects vintage cars and raises deer. He recently made a substantial donation to the Conservative Party.

Mrs Rausing is the daughter of a wealthy Pepsi executive. Mr Rausing's sister Sigrid is one of Britain's most generous philanthropists.