Woman arrested over drugs at Birmingham Airport

Feb 6 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM woman was arrested at the city’s airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle cannabis with a street value of £60,000 into the country.

The woman, in her 20s, was stopped by UK Border Agency officers on Wednesday after arriving on a flight from Jamaica.

She was arrested after 21 kilos of cannabis was found in baggage. She was released on bail until April.

Customs senior investigation officer, John Theobald, said: “This is another excellent result and sends out a clear message that regional airports like Birmingham are not a soft touch for drug smuggling.

“This demonstrates our continuing efforts to reduce the devastating effects of drugs in our communities.”

A second woman, Shounna Hines, 24, of Caulton Street, Nottingham, has been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK, after cocaine worth at least £90,000 was found in baggage, and the separate seizure of cannabis.

She appeared before Solihull magistrates yesterday and was remanded in custody until next Tuesday.