A pregnant teenage drugs courier who attempted to smuggle cannabis worth £225,000 through Newcastle Airport has been spared jail.
Daniella KanKam-Adu, 19, from London, was caught with 22.5 kilos of the Class B drug after arriving from Canada on March 3 this year.
The teenager claimed she had originally agreed to transport what she thought were vapes back to the UK for a payment of £250, which she needed for a deposit on a home.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that KanKam-Adu later realised the suitcase contained cannabis due to its size and weight but decided to proceed with the journey anyway.
Daniella KanKam-Adu has avoided jail
WikICommons/Northumbria Police
She received a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importing cannabis.
Border Force officers stopped KanKam-Adu at Newcastle Airport around 8.45am when she arrived from Toronto, reports ChronicleLive.
When questioned, she initially claimed she had packed her luggage herself and stated there was nothing prohibited inside.
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “However, when asked to open one she said she didn’t have the key. She became aware the locks would be forced.”
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Newcastle Crown CourtGOOGLE STREET VIEWThe prosecutor added: “Her attitude changed, she became obstructive, making comments to the officer. The officer was not being racist, it was just a random check.”
Upon inspection, officers discovered the suitcase contained 22.5 kilos of cannabis, with an estimated wholesale value of £67,500 and a street value of £225,000.
The court heard that KanKam-Adu had been approached by a friend who suggested she could make money by bringing vapes back to the UK to avoid paying tax. She was provided with tickets to Toronto and given instructions to follow.
Prosecutors accepted her basis of plea that she only realised the suitcase contained cannabis rather than vapes after noticing its size and weight.
Despite this realisation, she decided to continue with the importation as she needed the money and already had a plane ticket.
She maintained that she was unaware of the value of the drugs she was transporting. The teenager had agreed to carry out the task for just £250, which she said she needed to secure accommodation.
Glenn Gatland, defending, told the court that KanKam-Adu had experienced a difficult childhood and spent time in a care home.
He explained that before committing the offence, she had discovered she was pregnant and was motivated by a desire to provide a better life for her child.
“She has spent three months in custody and that will certainly serve as a deterrent to her to keep out of trouble in future,” Gatland added.
The court heard that during her three months on remand, KanKam-Adu suffered a miscarriage. Gatland described his client as “naïve” in agreeing to the smuggling operation, which was suggested by a friend.
KanKam-Adu, of Queens Road, London, will now serve her suspended sentence in the community.
