Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, had been stopped at Birmingham International Airport after landing back in the UK – with their suitcases packed full of cannabis

Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, two glamorous friends, appeared to have returned from a lavish girls’ trip to New York as they touched down in the UK, their suitcases seemingly brimming with shopping.

However, the contents of their luggage told a starkly different tale. The duo, both aged 30, were intercepted at Birmingham International Airport carrying over 35kg of cannabis in their bags.

On April 2, the women sat side by side in court, clutching each other’s hands and shedding tears as details of their attempt to smuggle drugs into the UK were laid bare.

READ MORE: Michelle Keegan celebrates first Mother’s Day with newborn in touching family phot

In December 2023, Bannister and Whalley, both hailing originally from Blackburn, informed Border Force officials that they had embarked on a three-day shopping spree in New York.

Yet, subsequent text messages between them unveiled their involvement in a scheme to import cannabis, anticipating substantial financial gain from their venture, reports Lancs Live.

They arrived back on December 9, via Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport, but were halted upon landing in Birmingham. Both women claimed they had packed their own suitcases and were aware that drug smuggling was illegal.

Nonetheless, when their luggage was inspected, authorities discovered 34 heat-sealed packages containing 16.5kg of cannabis in Bannister’s suitcase and an additional 39 packages holding 19kg of cannabis in Whalley’s bag. The narcotics found in Bannister’s case were estimated to be worth £40,500 on the street, while those in Whalley’s case were valued at around £121,500.

Whalley, a nurse who has been suspended from her role, initially told authorities she thought the parcels contained watches. Yet, both women eventually entered guilty pleas for fraudulent evasion of a prohibition and faced their sentencing at Preston Crown Court.

The court was informed that both defendants were susceptible to exploitation due to their challenging personal and financial situations. Since their apprehension, they have not been involved in any further illegal activities, and Whalley has become the mother of a young child, the court learned. She also expects to be struck off the nursing register, the court heard.

Judge Richard Archer, delivering the sentence, remarked: “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.”

Following the sentencing, Bannister, now residing on Cotton Lane in Manchester, received a 20-month suspended sentence for 18 months, coupled with 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work. Whalley, residing on Livesey Branch Road in Blackburn, was given a 16-month suspended sentence for 18 months, along with 10 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.

After exiting the courtroom, Bannister took to social media to express his sentiments: “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.”