Two childhood friends who tried to smuggle more than 35kg of cannabis into the UK wept in court as they narrowly avoided jail.
‘Shopping Trip’ Busted at Airport
Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, claimed they had been on a three-day shopping break in New York when they landed at Birmingham International Airport. But their bags told a different story.
Border Force officers stopped the pair and found 70 heat-sealed packages stuffed with cannabis, with a street value topping £160,000. Bannister’s suitcase alone held £40,500 worth of the drug, while Whalley’s haul was estimated at £121,500.
From Designer Bags to Drug Raps
Both women admitted they packed their own luggage and knew it was illegal to bring drugs into the UK. They were arrested on the spot and later admitted to being part of a smuggling plot with the aim of pocketing big money.
Whalley initially claimed she thought the parcels contained watches, but both later pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition.
‘Unbreakable Friendship’ and Suspended Sentences
At Preston Crown Court, they were each handed suspended sentences – Bannister received 20 months, and Whalley 16 months, both suspended for 18 months. Bannister must now complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation, while Whalley, who has since had a baby, will carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehab days.
Whalley, who was working as a nurse, is now suspended and could be struck off the register.
Judge: ‘You Knew Exactly What You Were Doing’
Judge Richard Archer told the pair: “This was not your cannabis. You were carrying it on behalf of others for significant financial reward. You may not have thought about being sat in the dock – but here you are.”
He added he hoped they would never involve themselves in such criminal activity again.
Social Media ‘Closure’
After walking free from court, Bannister posted online: “A true friendship which will never be broken… ready for the biggest fresh start and realising how important freedom really is.”
She described the case as “15 months of torture” and called her bond with Whalley “unbreakable.”
