THE boss of the Maidstone-based Lashings Cricket Club, David Folb, today launched a stinging attack on customs officers who detained a former West Indies cricket star on suspicion of drug smuggling.

Customs & Excise officials this morning issued a public apology after former Kent cricketer Eldine Baptiste was locked up in Wandsworth Prison for three days.

A statement said: "Customs & Excise apologises to Mr Eldine Baptiste for the inconvenience caused to him. Mr Baptiste was stopped on Sunday May 18 by Customs Officers at Gatwick airport. Tests on golf balls that were in Mr Baptiste’s possession gave a positive reading for a controlled substance more than once.

"However, in-depth forensic tests later confirmed that no controlled substance was present.”

Mr Folb, who took Mr Baptiste to his Maidstone home from prison on Monday, said he was appalled at the treatment of an international sportsman.

He stressed: “I didn't believe that we treated innocent people this way and seeing a great sporting hero locked up in Wandsworth prison was one of the most humiliating experiences I have had as an Englishman."

When he was detained at Gatwick, Mr Baptiste had been travelling from his native Antigua to South Africa, where he coaches Natal Dolphins, with his five-year-old daughter. His daughter travelled on to South Africa where she was collected by relatives, while her was father was in Wandsworth.

Mr Folb and Lashings' club captain Richie Richardson, the former West Indies skipper, collected Mr Baptiste Wandsworth. Mr Baptiste, 43, said: “The way I have been treated is an absolute disgrace." He said he may be taking legal action.

The Customs & Excise spokesman said Mr Baptiste had been cleared of all charges and a full investigation was being held into the incident.

The spokesman added: “We would be failing in our duty to the public of we did not carry out checks and take the necessary precautionary measures. In the vast majority of cases, these tests are accurate and it is our normal procedure to charge on this basis.

“One of our main priorities is to prevent smuggling of class A drugs into the UK.”