A 24-year-old woman has been handed a suspended prison sentence after attempting to import 12 kilograms of cannabis into the UK, raising concerns about drug trafficking at airports.
A 24-year-old woman has been handed a suspended prison sentence after attempting to smuggle 12 kilograms of cannabis into the UK. Jeanine Mulombo arrived at Newcastle Airport on 16 July 2022, on a business-class flight from Dubai. Her journey began when she departed from Gatwick Airport six days earlier, travelling to Thailand before returning to the UK.
Upon her arrival at Newcastle Airport, Mulombo’s behaviour raised suspicions among authorities. She was observed checking her suitcase on the carousel but initially chose not to retrieve it, waiting for it to come around a second time. This action prompted airport officials to conduct a search of the suitcase, which revealed it contained a total of 22 packs of cannabis weighing 12 kilograms in total. Following this discovery, Mulombo, who has no fixed address, was arrested.
In court, Mulombo pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importing cannabis. During the proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, she received a nine-month prison sentence, which has been suspended for 21 months. The court also mandated that she undergo rehabilitation.
Presiding over the case, Judge Gavin Doig remarked on the seriousness of the offence, stating, “Bringing drugs back into the country is a very serious offence. Many defendants receive immediate custodial sentences for it and you could not complain if you received an immediate custodial sentence today.” The barrister representing Mulombo argued that she was “vulnerable and taken advantage of” in her situation. It was noted in court that she has no prior convictions, has shown remorse for her actions, and is currently engaged in studying.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to address drug trafficking and smuggling within the UK, as authorities remain vigilant at points of entry such as airports.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/drugs-and-psychoactive-substances – This URL provides information on the UK’s border control measures regarding drugs, supporting the context of drug smuggling attempts like Mulombo’s.
- https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/courts-and-justice/newcastle-crown-court – This URL is related to Newcastle Crown Court, where Mulombo’s case was heard, highlighting the legal proceedings involved in drug smuggling cases.
- https://www.northumbria.police.uk/crime-prevention/drugs/ – This URL discusses drug-related crime prevention efforts by Northumbria Police, relevant to the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.
- https://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs – This Home Office page provides information on drug policies and enforcement in the UK, supporting the seriousness of drug smuggling offenses.
- https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/drugs – This URL from the Crown Prosecution Service outlines legal guidance on drug offenses, including the seriousness of importing drugs into the UK.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
2
Notes:
The incident occurred on 16 July 2022, indicating that the information is not fresh. There is no mention of recent updates or developments related to this case.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Judge Gavin Doig is specific to the case but lacks an original source or date. It appears to be a direct quote from court proceedings, but without further context or verification, its originality cannot be confirmed.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The narrative originates from a news aggregator (Google News), which typically compiles content from various sources. However, the specific source of this story is not clearly identified, making it difficult to assess its reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claim about a woman smuggling cannabis into the UK is plausible given the context of drug smuggling cases at airports. However, specific details such as the exact date and circumstances could not be verified independently.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is plausible but lacks freshness and clear source reliability. The quotes appear genuine but lack verification. Overall, while the story seems credible, it requires further confirmation for a definitive assessment.
