Two strangers cuffed getting off identical UK flight minutes aside after ‘get out fast’ textual content
Leon Coley, 30, and Gemma Edgar, 35 – both from Birmingham but not linked – were stopped 10 minutes apart after a flight back from Thailand via Dubai with a combined 62.8kg of cannabis
Two drug couriers carrying substantial amounts of cannabis were arrested on the same flight. Leon Coley, 30, and Gemma Edgar, 35 – both hailing from Birmingham, but not connected in any way – were on a return flight from Thailand via Dubai when they were intercepted just 10 minutes apart.
They were grilled by Manchester Airport Border Force officers on September 25 this year. Coley was travelling with two medium-sized suitcases. A search revealed 32.9kg of cannabis.
He told officers that hotel staff had packed his bags for him, insisting he was oblivious to their contents. Upon examining his phone, officers discovered a message reading ‘Get out quick’ – received just moments before his arrest.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Edgar was stopped with one large suitcase and one small bag. She was found to be carrying a total of 29.9kg of cannabis, reports the Manchester Evening News.
She informed officers that the drugs weren’t ‘hers’ and explained she had racked up poker debts – around £35,000 – in Bangkok and that she had been threatened by those she owed money to.
Coley and Edgar admitted to the fraudulent evasion of the importation of a class B drug. Coley was sentenced to a year and 10 months behind bars, while Edgar received a suspended sentence.
In sentencing them, Recorder of Manchester Judge Nicholas Dean KC stated there was a ‘high requirement for deterrence’ for importing drugs, which would typically warrant prison sentences, but said Edgar would not be incarcerated due to mental health issues.
The court was told Coley informed officers at the airport he had travelled to Thailand for a social visit and an unknown individual offered him cash to transport tobacco back.
“He said he was to meet him in Birmingham city centre for the handover,” prosecutor Mark Pritchard stated. “He denied knowing the luggage contained cannabis and said his initial statement were conflicted due to tiredness.”
Coley’s barrister Nick Wrack explained: “He answered an advert on social media – that gives you an indication of how brazen these organisers are. The advert said about making money, he was then told about the cannabis and he did volunteer to do it. He knew what he was getting into.”
Mr Wrack revealed that Coley, who was employed as a warehouse operative, planned to use the earnings from the crime to support his family.
Edgar informed officers at the airport that those to whom she owed money used ‘intimidation’ to pressure her into participating. “She was told to meet them in the UK and the consignment of drugs would repay the poker debt,” Mr Pritchard stated.
Her barrister Eleanor Brambell appealed to the court to impose a suspended sentence. “She has been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder,” she added.
“Ms Edgar is remorseful. This was a grave mistake which she regrets and will not make again. She takes full responsibility.”
The court heard that there had been 680 arrests this year alone for the same offence across the country. Judge Dean KC said: “This is an increasingly common offence. These people pray on people with financial difficulties.”
Coley, of Church Street, Birmingham, was banged up for a year and 10 months. Edgar, of Wheeler Street, Birmingham, was handed a year and four month sentence, suspended for two years, with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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