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Crack raid on billionaire's Chelsea home
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Rashid Razaq and Alex Stephens10.04.08
The heir to the £5.4 billion Tetra Pak drinks carton empire has been arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and heroin.
Hans Kristian Rausing, 44, was detained at his Chelsea home after his American-born wife Eva, also 44, was allegedly caught trying to smuggle small "wraps" of drugs into a function at the US embassy in Grosvenor Square.
Mrs Rausing said today: "I have made a serious mistake which I very much regret. I intend to leave as soon as possible to seek the help that I very much needed."
Mrs Rausing was arrested at the embassy in Mayfair just after 4pm on Tuesday after being challenged by security guards.
Police were called and she was taken to Charing Cross police station for questioning.
Officers then raided the Rausings' £5 million home and allegedly found £2,000 worth of drugs.
Her husband, a former hippy and Britain's sixth richest man, was at home and was also arrested. The couple were forced to give DNA samples, as well as have their photographs and fingerprints taken.
A police source said: "The beat officers were stunned when they turned up at the embassy and the woman gave her name. Crack is something you normally associate with Brixton - not rich types."
Today, wearing sunglasses and looking bedraggled, Mrs Rausing said: "I have made a grave error and I consider myself to have taken a wrong turn in the course of my life. I am very sorry for the upset I have caused. I thank my family and friends for the kindness and undertanding that they have shown me."
Mr Rausing's father, also called Hans, is a Swedish industrialist and tax exile. The couple have four children.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers arrested a 44-year-old woman in Mayfair on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs. A search was then conducted at an address in Chelsea and a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs. They were taken to a central London police station and later bailed to return in July, pending further enquiries."
Reader views (9)
Mrs. Rausing met Mr. Rausing at a NA meeting and they were both in and out of rehab several times before they married. One would think that they learned from their mistakes...I guess not. They have both taken many wrong turns in their lives regarding Class A Drugs. This is definitely not the first time.
- Dominik, London
"A police raid for personal possession! What a great use of public money, I'm sure we'll all benefit form this greatly. Get your priorities right MET! - David Pendly, London UK"
Nice one David - did you notice that this was not just a joint or a few magic mushrooms? It was heroin and crack - lethal drugs. Good on the police and more power to their truncheons. You react as if this sort of thing is a one off - well it isn't - there is a huge drug culture amongst the wealthy and the fact that this was for personal use is irrelevant. She tried to smuggle drugs into the American Embassy for heaven sake! Lets hope the CPS decide to throw the book at both of them and not have the charade of the way other rich druggies like Amy Winehouse are so leniently treated.
- Jamie, London
That picture alone is enough to make me "just say no".
- Stuart Dean, Beckton, London
Hmmm, one would have thought with all that money Mrs Rausing would at least pay a decent hairstylist...
- Iheoma Nwaigwe, London
These people should be thrown out of our country for their monstrous behaviour - how dare they bring their disgusting drug habits into our country. They should be treated the same as a dealer would be for there is no excuse for their actions. Throw the book at them and make an example of them so as to deter anyone else from indulging in the same heinous behaviour!
- Wooram, Alicante, Spain
A police raid for personal possession! What a great use of public money, i'm sure we'll all benefit form this greatly. Get your prioritys right MET!
- David Pendly, London UK
I wonder if their guilt (if either are in half a frame of mind to ever feel any) is assuaged by their contributing and being on the board of countless drug and rehabilitation charities. What angers me is that they both indulge themselves selfishly effectively aiding and abetting brown sugar to enter our country ... whilst our boys are fighting in Afghanistan. For what? The protection of our children? It's all very well empathising with other helpless heroin addicts returning to the safety of their millionaire cocoon when they are themselves addicts (and have been for years) but perhaps Eva and Hans could take their 4 coveted children on a tour amongst our troops in Afghanistan ... then maybe she can talk about "kindness and understanding".
- Jcareyfoster, JCareyFoster
Considering that most Tetrapak cartons deposit the first inch or two of their contents down your trousers and over your shoes, I'm amazed the family made enough wedge to splash out on drugs in the first place,
- Paul, London
What exactly does this line mean "Crack is something you normally associate with Brixton - not rich types" and this still will not open England eyes to the drug problem they so ever try to ignore, the crack problem go beyond the socio-economic group, The crack epidemic, has far more reaching arm that just only in certain neighbourhood. Crack is crack it knows no colour or economic group, once its there its open to all comers, England needs to wake up and take a serious look, of what the legacy of what crack has done to the US both in the inner cities and in the suburbs
- Lennox, Atlanta GA USA
