A mother who tried to smuggle £1.4 million worth of cocaine into the UK by hiding the drugs in her children's luggage has been jailed for 13 years.
The 32-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught at Heathrow Airport after customs officers discovered 14kg of the Class A substance concealed in suitcases belonging to her young children.
The Brazen Scheme
Investigators revealed the woman had packed the cocaine in vacuum-sealed packages before carefully placing them among her children's belongings. She had flown from Brazil via Portugal, apparently hoping the innocent-looking luggage would avoid suspicion.
Border Force officers became suspicious during routine checks and discovered the drugs hidden beneath clothing and toys in the cases. Forensic tests confirmed the packages contained high-purity cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.4 million.
Harsh Sentence Sends Strong Message
At Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Sarah Johnston described the offence as "a calculated attempt to exploit your own children for criminal gain." The substantial prison sentence reflects the seriousness of drug trafficking offences in the UK.
Detective Inspector Paul Langley of the National Crime Agency said: "This case demonstrates how drug traffickers will go to shocking lengths, including using children, to try and evade detection. We will continue to work with Border Force to stop these dangerous substances reaching our streets."
Impact on the Children
Social services have been involved to support the children, who were unaware they were being used as drug mules. Child protection experts have expressed concern about the long-term psychological impact on the youngsters.
The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about criminals exploiting children in drug smuggling operations, with airports increasing vigilance for such tactics.
