Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, appeared to be returning from a glamorous shopping spree in New York when they landed at Birmingham International Airport. However, their suitcases were packed with more than just shopping bags.
The pair were caught with over 35kg of cannabis in their luggage. On April 2, the women wept in court as they heard the charges against them for attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK.
In December 2023, the Blackburn natives told Border Force officials they had been on a three-day shopping trip to the Big Apple. Yet, text messages later exposed their involvement in a plot to import cannabis, anticipating a hefty profit. They returned via Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport on December 9 but were intercepted upon arrival in Birmingham. Both claimed they packed their own cases and were aware that drug smuggling was illegal.
Upon inspection, officers discovered 34 heat-sealed packages containing 16.5kg of cannabis in Bannister's suitcase and another 39 packages with 19kg of cannabis in Whalley's. The drugs in Bannister's case were valued at around £40,500, while those in Whalley's were estimated at £121,500, reports Lancs Live.
Whalley, a nurse who has since been suspended, initially claimed she thought the packages contained watches but later admitted to evading import bans with another woman at Preston Crown Court. The judge was told of their susceptibility to exploitation and life changes post-arrest, including Whalley’s new motherhood.
Judge Richard Archer, during sentencing, highlighted: "You were both aware that having travelled from New York to Birmingham via Paris that you had in your respective suitcases a significant quantity of heat sealed bags, containing 35.5kg of cannabis.
"This was not your cannabis but cannabis you were carrying on behalf of another but you were expecting significant financial advantage for doing what you did. You discussed it in relation to this particular trip to New York, with a clear view of the money you were going to make from behaving this way.
"You perhaps had little regard to the seriousness or consequences of your offending. It must have been in the back of your mind that you would be caught but you probably thought very little about sitting in the dock this afternoon. I very much hope that you don't involve yourselves in this behaviour again."
Judge handed Bannister, currently residing on Cotton Lane in Manchester, a 20-month sentence suspended for 18 months, accompanied by 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work. Meanwhile, Whalley, a resident of Livesey Branch Road in Blackburn, received a 16-month sentence suspended for 18 months, with 10 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Following their release from the dock, Bannister expressed gratitude on social media, stating: "Thank you for the people who have stood by us [during] truly the most mentally and emotionally challenging times of our life. 15 months of torture. HUGE lessons learnt. A LOT of tears along the way. But stood by each others side no matter what.
"A true friendship which will never be broken which was proven today holding hands not knowing the outcome. Finally some closure and moving forward with our life. Ready for the biggest fresh start and realising how important freedom really is. Levi Whalley no matter what people have said we really have an unbreakable friendship."
