Two drugs caught an attempt to smuggle £ 160,000 in cannabis in the UK, lived a glamorous jet setting lifestyle, which posted pictures of themselves on vacation in Thailand, Greece and Spain, can reveal MailOnline.
Pals Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, from Blackburn, were cut with 35 kg from class B-drug in their luggage when they returned from a trip to New York in December 2023.
The couple, both transferred, tried to tell the border officials at Birmingham International Airport that they had been to the Big Apple on a three -day store trip.
However, SMS messages between Bannister and Whalley later revealed that they were involved in a lucrative conspiracy to import cannabis into the UK.
Now photos on the social media accounts of both women show prior to their arrests that they enjoy a series of lush holidays around the world.
Bannister and Whalley traveled to New York in October 2023, two months before they were caught with the drugs, and shared Snaps of themselves those tourist locations in the city.
In one Instagram story, Whalley who was a nurse is, but since then suspended, can be seen on a bus tour and later on the Statue of Liberty.
And in another banner, depicts with a Starbucks cup on the iconic Times Square.
Sophie Bannister (photo) and Levi-April Whalley, both 30 from Blackburn, told border officials that they had been to the Big Apple on a three-day stores
Bannister is depicted Posing with a Starbucks Cup on the iconic Times Square in New York
Sophie Bannister (depicted in New York) and Levi-april Whalley, both 30, from Blackburn, were cut with 35 kg of class B-drug in their luggage
Whalley is depicted on a beach in Thailand in one of her social media snaps
In 2023, other glamorous holiday bangs show the friends to places such as Marbella, Thailand and Greece.
In one, Whalley poses in a green bikini on a boat at Pi Pi Island and in a second banner you can see outside a hotel on the Spanish party island of Ibiza.
Bannister and Whalley appeared yesterday at the Preston Crown Court to be convicted of drug smuggling.
The court heard that when their luggage was checked when they returned from New York on December 9, 2023, officers found more than 70 sealed packages cannabis.
The drugs in Bannister's suitcase had an estimated street value of £ 40,500 and Whalley's were estimated at £ 121,500.
The hearing was told that both women were vulnerable to exploitation because of their own personal and financial circumstances.
Since their arrest has not committed other offenses and Whalley has become the mother of a young baby, the court heard.
Bannister and Whalley later argued guilty of fraudulent avoidance of a ban and today appeared at the Preston Crown Court to be convicted.
Bannister is depicted in a hotel in Ibiza, Spain in August 2023
The drugs in Bannister's suitcase had an estimated street value of £ 40,500 and Whalley's were estimated at £ 121,500
Whady, a former nurse, is depicted on a boat in Thailand in 2023
Since their arrest, none of the two other offenses have committed and Whalley (photo) has become a mother for a young baby, the court heard
Bannister in a social media snap that was subtitled 'Cold weather is not for me'
Judge Richard Archer, conviction, said: 'You both knew that you traveled from New York to Birmingham via Paris that you had a considerable amount of heat -sealed bags in your respective suitcases, with 35.5 kg cannabis.
'This was not your cannabis but cannabis that you had with you on behalf of another, but you expected a considerable financial benefit to do what you did.
'You discussed it with regard to this specific trip to New York, with a clear picture of the money you would earn to behave in this way.
'You may have little attention to the severity or consequences of your insult. It must have been in 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 no longer involve yourself in this behavior.”
He sentenced Bannister to 20 months in prison, 18 months suspended with 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Whalley received a 16 -month prison sentence for 18 months, with 10 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Bannister (photo) and Whalley traveled to New York in October 2023 – Sharing Snaps of them Shopping and visiting tourist sites in the city
Officers found 34 sealed packages cannabis in the Bannister case and another 39 packages in the Whalley luggage
Whalley is depicted on a trip to New York City in 2023 before she was caught on the drugs
Two glamorous drugsmuiles were caught with more than £ 160,000 hidden in cannabis in their suitcases (depicted: Levi-April Whalley)
Bannister went to social media after they have walked free from the dock, said: 'Thanks for the people who have stood with us [during] Really the most mental and emotionally challenging times of our lives.
'15 months torture. Huge lessons learned. Many tears en route. But stood at each other's side, whatever happens.
'A real friendship that will never be broken that has proven to hold hands today without knowing the outcome.
'Finally some closure and progressing with our lives. Ready for the biggest new start and realize how important freedom is real. Levi Whalley, regardless of what people have said that we really have an unbreakable friendship. '
