Woman with £400k of cocaine hidden in bag jailed
A DRUGS mule stopped at Bristol Airport with cocaine worth £400,000 in her suitcase linings has been jailed for eight years.
Adetokunbo Ajoke Bakare claimed to have bought the suitcases from a roadside trader in Cameroon and denied any knowledge of the drugs when she was stopped in July last year.
But Bristol Crown Court heard that the 44-year-old had made eight return trips, seven from Bristol and one from Heathrow, to Cameroon and Nigeria in the 10 months leading up to her arrest.
She was also found to have travelled using a false Bristol address and money contaminated with heroin was found at her home in London.
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Bakare originally pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into the UK.
She was later given leave to change her plea – but a jury of eight women and four men unanimously convicted her after just over three hours of deliberation yesterday.
Judge David Ticehurst told a tearful Bakare: "I am in no doubt whatsoever that you knew full well what was in your suitcases.
"There is no evidence whatsoever you were under any pressure or duress. This was a deliberate policy, embarked upon by you, to bring class A drugs into this country and make a profit.
"You played a lesser role. You were a courier of drugs, used to bring them into this country on one occasion."
The court was told that Bakare would be liable to be deported to her native Nigeria after serving her term.
Mark Hollier, prosecuting, said customs officers who searched Bakare's baggage realised the cases were still quite heavy even after being emptied of the visible contents of clothes and cosmetics. They were x-rayed and something was spotted between the inner and outer lining, which was stuck down with glue.
Bags of cocaine, weighing a total of 5kg, were found.
In her defence, Bakare claimed to have no knowledge of the drugs. She said she travelled to Cameroon to buy wigs and clothing to sell on at a profit and also worked as a prostitute.
After the case Dawn Cartwright, of Border Force, said: "We are serious about tackling the criminals responsible for bringing illegal drugs into Britain and Bakare's lengthy jail term should serve as a warning to others."
Comments
by Jonnyfandango
Friday, June 22 2012, 10:46AM
“@ Cider_dog Hello my name is Odayo adabaye, and i'd like to say that i for one am a very proud and honest Nigerian.
However, i do have a proposition for you. I have lsot the use of both my legs in a terrible accident involving a petrol tanker. I stand to win millions in compensation, but in order to get this money i require a small investment from yourself good sir. If you give me your account details and a deposit of £5000 i can triple your money in a day! Please please respond”
by Cider_Dog
Friday, June 22 2012, 10:22AM
“She looks like Lennox Lewis...only uglier.”
by Badladdy
Thursday, June 21 2012, 11:20PM
“I think you're all being a bit harsh. He's not that ugly.”
by Adair
Thursday, June 21 2012, 7:48PM
“She should swing.”
by blahblkah
Thursday, June 21 2012, 6:52PM
“She needs a wig.”
by southmeadboy
Thursday, June 21 2012, 6:49PM
“"£400,000 worth of cocaine in her suitcase" She could of fitted double that in her hamster chops !”
by andygeezer
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:55AM
“A face only a mother could love or a desperate drunk if he was feeling in the need for affection from this hideously deformed creature who alleges to have worked as a prostitute ! No wonder she resorted to drug smuggling with a face like hers.”
by Tody123
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:44AM
“she looks like the back end of a mule!”
by Cider_Dog
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:28AM
“"She said she travelled to Cameroon to buy wigs and clothing to sell on at a profit and also worked as a prostitute."
Great, just the type of honest, upstanding immigrant we need in the UK.
A drug smuggling hooker with a penchant for wigs (with a face like that I'd suggest a wig would be the very least of her requirements to pursue a successful career as a 'lady of the night')
In my experience it is ingrained into the Nigerian culture to be deceptive and make illegal gains via dishonesty...I fully understand how controversial that sounds but it is what i have encountered personally.
I do not doubt there a many honest, hard working, upstanding Nigerian's in the UK, I just have not been fortunate to meet them myself (yet).
8 years and then deport her, but with her record I would not be surprised if she turned up at our borders again mind you,”
by harryreg_uk
Thursday, June 21 2012, 8:54AM
“I'm amazed the court didn't fall for it, bet she doesn't get deported after - can see the "Right to family life" farce coming to another criminal's rescue yet again
But so far, fair play for actually dishing out a decent punishment - it used to called a deterrent before the country went soft!”