"Naive" Teen Locked-Up For Smuggling Cocaine

A teenager, who smuggled £324,000 worth of cocaine through Gatwick Airport, while on bail for sneaking cannabis into a prison, has been locked-up for four and a half years.

Suzi Bansenga, 19, of Brooklime Close, Swindon, Wiltshire was returning from the Caribbean when she was stopped with 1.69 kilos of 72% pure cocaine in her luggage.

The first-time offender pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to importing the drug on December 4, last year and conveying an article, namely cannabis, into HMP The Mount, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire on September 7.

Prosecutor Miss Shazi Ahmed told the court Bansenga was initially arrested and bailed during a scheduled visit to The Mount.

“A dog handler at the entrance asked her if she had any illegal drugs on her after the dog indicated a positive response and Bansenga said she was with some smokers earlier and when the officer smelt cannabis she said it was on her clothing.

“A large package weighing 31.95 gms was in her leggings and a smaller package weighing 7.63 gms was in her bra.”

Bansenga was scheduled to visit prisoner Tyrone White, who she said repeatedly asked her to smuggle cannabis in, promising her £200 in return.

She was arrested again after flying in from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where she told UK Border Agency officers she had spent two weeks visiting her aunt and had no drugs on her.

Officers x-rayed a heavy rucksack, which was inside the defendant's suitcase, and discovered the cocaine.

Bansenga's lawyer Mr. Brian Aldred told the court: “It was a normal family trip until the last day when her aunt was visited by a male and when they started arguing in the bedroom the defendant left.

“When she returned her aunt was packing her case for her and was in tears, explaining that she would have to take something back with her or there would be trouble.

“Her aunt said it was drugs and Miss Bansenga refused, but her aunt was very upset and she gave in.

“She was not going to be reimbursed for doing it and she presents herself as a naïve and pliable lady who obviously has some growing up to do.”

Recorder HJ Mallins CBE told Bansenga: “The first offence was something you did for money and greed and after that while on bail you committed a much more serious crime.

“You smuggled cocaine into this country, a dreadfully serious offence, and doing so while on bail for another offence is even worse.

“The second offence was perhaps borne out of greed, you were not forced to do it, it was disgraceful.”

Bansenga was sentenced to four-and-a-half years custody for smuggling cocaine and six months to run concurrently for the cannabis offence.