Mother and son imported 14kg of cocaine through Manchester Airport

Amanda Meadowcroft, 53, of Argyle Street, and Bradley Couzins, 34, of Gillibrand Street, appeared before Manchester Crown Court to be sentenced for fraudulent evasion of a prohibition by bringing into or taking out of the UK a controlled drug.

The charges relate to April 22, when Meadowcroft and her friend arrived back in the UK from the Dominican Republic, where they were met by Border Force agents.

Officers asked Meadowcroft if she had packed the two bags herself, which she denied for one bag but admitted for the other.

Within the bags, a total of 14kg of cocaine was discovered.

However, Ben Berkson, prosecuting, said that analysis of the drugs showed that they were mostly cutting agents and had trace levels of cocaine in them.

Christopher Green, an expert witness, said that if the drugs were of a high quality, they were worth up to £294,000.

Judge Hilary Manley said: “The facts are simple, you flew from the Dominican Republic to Manchester with luggage that contained cocaine.

“It was of low purity, and it appeared you had been duped.

“The fact that the cocaine was of low purity is neither here nor there. I will temper [your sentence] to a degree to reflect that purity was low.”

A phone seized from Meadowcroft revealed communication with her son, who had arranged the travel, passports and transport from the airport.

Additionally, within the phone, it showed messages which, Amy Weir, mitigating, argued showed that Couzins had been intimidating and threatening his mother to import the drugs.

However, Mr Berkson argued that it did not match the messages.

He said: “Couzins is the organiser, directing Meadowcroft and her friend to carry out the offence; she was misled about the nature of the packages.

“Whilst he has appeared to direct Meadowcroft, the crown is of the view that they both played a significant role in the enterprise, and the idea that she was engaged through pressure, coercion, does not match with the messages.”

As a result, Couzins was arrested on August 7 after he had assaulted an emergency worker while trying to smash his phone that had fallen from his pocket.

Mr Berkson added that at the time of the offending, Meadowcroft had already been serving a suspended sentence for importing 30kg of cannabis, and she admitted that she had breached her suspended sentence.

Kristian Cavanagh, mitigating for Couzins, said that he had been engaging well since getting into prison, particularly with his work and with a trauma therapist at the prison.

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He added that since he had a son of his own, he was looking to lead a law-abiding life.

Ms Weir said Meadowcroft was remorseful for her actions and, having been a drug user herself, expressed genuine remorse that she was now involved in a system that exacerbates issues for users.

She said: “This is a remorseful defendant, she used the word ashamed and ashamed she is involved in this offending for the second time.

“She has had issues with drug dependency and has had a difficult time in relation to drug use.

“She does express genuine shame that she is involved in a system that exacerbates the issues she has as a drug user.

“She has two children and grandchildren, and she is motivated to be a productive member of society, but she knows she is letting them down.”

A tearful Meadowcroft apologised profusely as she was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, while Couzins was sentenced to seven and a half years’ imprisonment.

Charles Lee, NCA Senior Investigation Officer, said: “This criminal family went to great lengths to source and smuggle class A drugs into the UK.

“The duo planned and executed an operation born out of greed, culminating in a violent assault on an NCA officer. Thankfully the officer made a full recovery.

“Alongside key partners such as Border Force and Lancashire Police, the NCA will continue to disrupt supply chains and bring criminals like Meadowcroft and Couzins to justice.”