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TWO drug-smuggling pals were caught with 35kg of cannabis at the airport after a “shopping trip” to New York.

Glamorous Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley landed back on UK soil with their suitcases seemingly packed full of shopping.

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Sophie Bannister, 30, was carrying cannabis with an estimated street value of £40,500[/caption]

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Levi-April Whalley, 30, was caught with a haul worth around £121, 500[/caption]

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The pair tried to smuggle the drugs back from the US[/caption]

But their luggage told a very different story.

The pair, both 30, were stopped at Birmingham International Airport with more than 35kg of cannabis in their luggage.

On Wednesday, sitting side by side in the dock, the women held hands and sobbed as the court heard how they had attempted to bring the drugs into the UK.

In December 2023, Bannister and Whalley – both originally from Blackburn, Lancashire – told Border Force officials they had been on a three-day shopping trip to the Big Apple.

However, text messages between them later revealed they had become involved in a plot to import cannabis – and expected to make a lot of money from their exploits.

They returned on December 9, via Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport, but were stopped on their arrival into Birmingham.

Both women said they had packed their own cases and knew it was illegal to bring drugs into the country.

However, when their luggage was checked, officers found 34 heat sealed packages containing 16.5kg of cannabis in Bannister’s case and a further 39 packages containing 19kg of cannabis in Whalley’s case.

The drugs in Bannister’s case had an estimated street value of £40,500 and Whalley’s were estimated at £121, 500.

Whalley, a nurse who has since been suspended from practice, told officials she believed the packages contained watches.

However, both women later pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

The court heard they were vulnerable to exploitation due to their own personal and financial circumstances.

Since their arrest, neither has committed any other offences and Whalley has become a mother to a young baby, the court heard.

She also expects to be struck off the nursing register, the court heard.

Judge Richard Archer, sentencing, said: “You were both aware that having travelled from New York to Birmingham via Paris that you had in your respective suitcases a significant quantity of heat sealed bags, containing 35.5kg of cannabis.

“This was not your cannabis but cannabis you were carrying on behalf of another but you were expecting significant financial advantage for doing what you did.

“You discussed it in relation to this particular trip to New York, with a clear view of the money you were going to make from behaving this way.

“You perhaps had little regard to the seriousness or consequences of your offending.

“It must have been in the back of your mind that you would be caught but you probably thought very little about sitting in the dock this afternoon.

“I very much hope that you don’t involve yourselves in this behaviour again.”

He sentenced Bannister, now of Cotton Lane, Manchester, to 20 months suspended for 18 months with 30 days rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Whalley, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, was handed a 16-month sentence suspended for 18 months, with 10 days rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.

Taking to social media after walking free from the dock, Bannister said: “Thank you for the people who have stood by us [during] truly the most mentally and emotionally challenging times of our life.

“15 months of torture. HUGE lessons learnt. A LOT of tears along the way. But stood by each others side no matter what.

“A true friendship which will never be broken which was proven today holding hands not knowing the outcome. Finally some closure and moving forward with our life.

“Ready for the biggest fresh start and realising how important freedom really is. Levi Whalley no matter what people have said we really have an unbreakable friendship.”

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Levi-April Whalley[/caption]

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Sophie Bannister[/caption]

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The women had more than 35kg of cannabis in their luggage[/caption]

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The haul was found when they landed at Birmingham International Airport[/caption]

GRACE Jackson oozed glam as she headed out for lunch with boyfriend Luca Bish in Paris – but fans couldn’t help clock the band on her left hand.

They spotted the huge gold ring on her wedding finger as the duo headed for lunch in the French capital.

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Grace Jackson was seen donning a band on her ring finger as she holidayed in Paris[/caption]

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She is on her second overseas trip with boyfriend Luca Bish[/caption]

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Love Island All Stars alum Luca pulled out all the stops to ask Grace to be his girlfriend in a lavish beach proposal[/caption]

Love Island All Stars alum Grace donned the accessory just weeks after the Brighton lad pulled out all the stops with a sweet proposal asking her to be his girlfriend.

He arranged a sweet setting on a beach in Abu Dhabi, complete with flowers and a neon sign to make things official during their first holiday together.

He showcased the seaside proposal on his social media page with the gushing caption: “I’ll keep this one.

“Thank you @fahidbcbybarbossa for bringing my vision to life so perfectly.

“Wouldn’t have wanted to do this in any other place.”

“And that’s how you do it ladies and gentleman,” wrote his former Love Island co-star, Dami Hope.

Now Manchester model Grace has sparked suggestions they’ve taken their relationship – forged on the Love Island spin-off show – to the next level.

Grace was seen in a white vest and camel-coloured jacket, complete with a pair of sunglasses perched on her head.

She styled her blonde hair into a straight style, accessorising with a chunky gold necklace.

Yet it was the ring on her left hand, with her fingernails perfectly manicured, that set her Instagram fans talking.

Grace and Luca later tucked into a pasta lunch before heading out in the evening towards the Eiffel Tower.

Previously, Love Island fans accused Luca of “recycling” his proposal after he previously asked Gemma Owen to be his girlfriend in another lavish set-up.

Love Island viewers spotted similarities between his latest gesture and the one he did for ex Gemma after meeting her on the show the first time round.

That time he used red roses and in a very extravagant move he even gifted her a Cartier bracelet at the same time.

Fans of the show, were quick to comment on how similar they are, with one person writing: “It is basically the exact same as what he did for Gemma.”

Grace and Luca’s whirlwind romance captured hearts on the show, and they came second to Gabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman in the All Stars final.

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The pair headed for dinner in the French capital[/caption]

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Grace and Luca came second in the All Stars final[/caption]

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They recently headed on their first holiday together[/caption]

Peter Dutton has played down potential changes to industrial relations laws if elected, instead prioritising a crackdown on building industry union the CFMEU.

The most recent event on Albany Cycle Club’s calendar had riders venture west to take on the hilly Denmark Teardrop course on March 15.

Breaking the urban-regional divide has been on many leaders’ agendas, making regional people and their communities a critical diversity to unlock and include. 

US President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on the world’s major economies triggered a sharp fall in Australian stocks, wiping out $21bn in value.

Doctors have warned authorities in one state of a likely spike in overdoses as a deadly opioid stronger than fentanyl continues to surface and testing facilities are closed.

For years critics have questioned when Penrith's big-name exits would begin to challenge their dynasty, and it finally may be happening now.

For the first time in more than two years West Coast will unveil three debutants when Sandy Brock, Hamish and Tom Gross play against Greater Western Sydney at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday.