Drugs courier, Shounna Hines, 24, was investigated by officers from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) after a paste form of the Class A drugs were discovered by the UK Border Agency.  Hines was stopped on 4 January 2009, having arrived on a flight from Jamaica.

Hines was due to be tried in June 2009, but pleaded guilty on 11 June 2009. She was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 16 June 2009.

Upon sentencing Hines, Recorder Rachel Brand said:
“You were caught bringing cocaine through Birmingham Airport.  It is plain you must have been recruited by someone, the only point in your favour is that you had the good sense to plead guilty, albeit late.”

Dawn Cartwright, Senior Investigation Officer for HMRC said:
“Drugs devastate lives and harm communities. Our officers and their UK Border Agency colleagues remain alert to the various ways in which couriers will try to smuggle drugs in to the UK. The sentence handed down by the court will serve as a deterrent to others contemplating this serious form of criminality. 

“I would encourage anyone with information relating to drug smuggling to contact the Customs’ hotline on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.hotline@hmrc.gov.uk.”

Notes for editors

1.                  Photographs are available upon request.

2.                   Shounna Elizebeth HINES, (03.12.1984), of Ford Street, Nottingham, NG7 7BD and

Caulton Street, Nottingham. Occupation – Unemployed.

3.         She was charged with the illegal importation of cocaine, contrary to S170 (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

4.         The case was prepared for prosecution by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO was created by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General and is responsible for prosecuting cases for HMRC and SOCA. It prosecutes some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK.  For further information about RCPO, please contact their press office on 020 7147 7746 or visit www.rcpo.gov.uk.

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

Press enquiries only please contact:

Issued on behalf of Jennie Kendall - Regional Press Officer for Central England

Lisa Billard
Tel:                  023 8079 7587 or 07808 571819
E-mail:             lisa.billard@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk                

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