Levi-April Whalley, a 31-year-old former nurse, was spared jail after attempting to smuggle over 35kg of cannabis into the UK. She was caught trying to bring the drugs, worth approximately £160,000, into the country hidden in two suitcases on a flight from New York to Birmingham in December 2023. Alongside her close friend, Sophie Bannister, 30, Whalley admitted to making a “stupid” decision but blamed it on being groomed by international criminals.
Since her arrest, Whalley has had a baby – a daughter now aged five months. She stated that becoming a mother made her realize why drug smuggling carries such severe penalties, noting that cannabis trafficking can lead to a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Both women, originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, were given suspended sentences after admitting their involvement. Whalley expressed regret, stating that the pair had been offered a “free holiday” in New York by a woman they met in Marbella in exchange for transporting what they believed were watches and jewellery.
The arrest of Whalley and Bannister was part of a larger operation in 2023, which saw authorities arrest 134 suspects connected to the smuggling of 5,609kg of cannabis into UK airports. In total, 26,924kg of drugs were seized from nearly 750 smugglers in 2023, reflecting a five-fold increase from the year before.
Whalley, now a beauty therapist after retraining, expressed deep remorse for her actions. She said, “I’d love to speak to people in schools to try and change things and open their eyes. Think twice about every opportunity because it might not always be the right choice.”
Reflecting on her new role as a mother, she added, “I didn’t realize how much children change you. I want the best for my daughter.”
Whalley also shared her concerns about exploitation and grooming, stressing the need to protect children from being coerced into illegal activities like drug trafficking. She warned, “I wouldn’t want my daughter to be exploited. Don’t be sucked into this false reality.”
Whalley’s powerful message aims to raise awareness about the dangers of becoming a drug mule and encourages others to make better choices when presented with seemingly innocent offers.
