Tetra Pak heir drugs case dropped

Drugs charges against the heir to the multi-billion pound Tetra Pak empire will be dropped, a court has heard.

Hans Kristian Rausing, 45, whose Swedish father owns the £5.4bn drinks carton company, had been charged with possessing Class A drugs.

Similar charges against his wife Eva Louise Rausing, 44, have also been dropped, City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday.

The couple, of Chelsea, west London, have been given a conditional caution.

The couple were arrested in April after Mrs Rausing allegedly tried to smuggle small amounts of crack cocaine and heroin into the US embassy in London.

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 Family statement

Their five-storey Georgian townhouse in Cadogan Place was subsequently searched.

Following a police investigation, they were charged with the drugs offences on 13 July and released on bail.

According to court documents, Mr Rausing was charged with possessing 0.2oz (5.63g) of crack cocaine, 0.1oz (2.9g) of heroin and almost 1.8oz (52g) of cocaine.

Mrs Rausing faced charges of possessing Class A and Class C drugs.

In a statement released earlier on Tuesday, Mr Rausing's parents and siblings said they were supporting the couple as they 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."