A 19-year-old pregnant woman who attempted to smuggle more than 22 kilograms of cannabis into the UK has been spared prison after claiming she needed the money for a deposit on a home.
Daniella Kankam-Adu, of London, was stopped by Border Force officers at Newcastle Airport on March 3, after flying in from Toronto. She had been offered £250 to transport what she believed were vaping products, but officials found her suitcase stuffed with cannabis worth an estimated £225,000 on the street.
Despite initially insisting there was nothing suspicious in her luggage, Kankam-Adu became uncooperative when asked to unlock her bags, prompting officers to force them open. Inside, they found 22.5kg of cannabis, with a wholesale value of £67,500.
Prosecutors told Newcastle Crown Court that although she claimed to be unaware of the exact contents, Kankam-Adu admitted to becoming suspicious due to the weight and size of the suitcase. She pleaded guilty to attempting to evade prohibition on drug importation.
Her defence counsel, Glenn Gatland, described her as a vulnerable young woman who had experienced a troubled upbringing and time in care.
He said she discovered she was pregnant shortly before the offence and was desperate to secure housing for herself and her unborn child. The plan, suggested by a friend, appeared to her as a simple way to earn quick money.
While on remand, Kankam-Adu spent three months in custody, during which she suffered a miscarriage. Her lawyer said the experience had deeply affected her and served as a powerful deterrent.
