October 19th 2024.
In the late summer month of August, a woman by the name of Larissa was stopped at Manchester Airport. This wasn't just an ordinary stop, as she was found to have nearly 100 pellets of cocaine hidden inside her body and bra. As she was being inspected by Border Force officers, she even showed them pictures on her phone of the drugs. It was clear that Larissa had been trying to smuggle these illegal substances into the country.
At 27 years old and a mother of four, Larissa had flown in from Brazil on August 24th. When questioned, she claimed that she was in the UK to "research nice places," having previously flown through France and Portugal. However, her story quickly fell apart when she was asked about any illegal items she may have brought with her. She denied having anything of that nature and even voluntarily showed officers pictures from her time in France. But as they scrolled through her phone, they came across a picture of "white pellets," which led to further searches.
It was then revealed that Larissa had ingested a kilo of cocaine and had also concealed it both internally and externally. Border Force officers were able to recover all of the pellets, which totaled 99 in weight. The wholesale price of this amount of cocaine was estimated to be around £30,000, with a street value of £72,000. It was a significant amount of drugs that Larissa had attempted to smuggle into the country.
After pleading guilty to her charges, Larissa was sentenced to three years in jail. The judge also mentioned that she would most likely be deported back to Brazil after serving 40 percent of her sentence. The severity of her crime was not taken lightly, and it was clear that Larissa had put herself at great risk by attempting to smuggle these drugs.
During the court hearing, it was revealed that Larissa had flown from São Paulo to Manchester via France and Portugal with only a small carry-on bag. She was questioned by Border Force officers with the help of a Portuguese interpreter, as it was her first time visiting the country. Despite her claims of innocence, it was clear that she had been involved in the transportation of these illegal drugs.
Larissa's lawyer, Laura Broome, stated that her client was in a state of desperation when she committed this crime. She explained that Larissa had been recruited by others who had instructed her on how to conceal and ingest the drugs. It was a dangerous task that Larissa had taken on, as any of the pellets could have burst inside her body, causing serious harm or even death. It was a clear indication of the little regard that those who recruited her had for her safety.
The judge, Patrick Field KC, also acknowledged the danger that Larissa had put herself in, stating that it emphasized her state of mind. He also mentioned that she was recruited by organized criminals who were more sophisticated and had no sympathy for the risks she was taking. It was evident that the amount of money she would have received for this task was a significant sum to her, but it was still not worth the consequences she now faced.
Throughout the hearing, Larissa wept, showing genuine remorse for her actions. Her lawyer explained that she had been recruited through coercion, intimidation, and control, and that she had no influence over those above her in the chain. It was a desperate situation that Larissa had found herself in, and she had tried to stop participating in the illegal activity once she realized the seriousness of it. However, she was told that she had no choice.
In the end, Larissa was sentenced to three years in jail and was left with no fixed abode. The judge's words about the severity of her crime were a clear indication that this type of offense is taken very seriously in the courts. It was a harsh lesson for Larissa, who was just a pawn in the hands of organized criminals. She had put herself at great risk and ultimately paid the price for her actions.
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