A mother and son were sentenced after attempting to smuggle 14kg of cocaine into the UK through Manchester Airport.
A mother and son have been sentenced to prison after attempting to smuggle 14 kilograms of cocaine into the United Kingdom, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Amanda Meadowcroft, 53, and her son Bradley Couzins, 34, were jailed after admitting their roles in the drug importation plot. Meadowcroft received a seven-year prison sentence, while Couzins was sentenced to seven years and six months.
The case began in April 2025, when Meadowcroft arrived at Manchester Airport on a flight from the Dominican Republic. Border Force officers stopped her during routine checks and discovered the cocaine concealed in her luggage. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of nearly £294,000.
Investigators later analyzed mobile phones seized during the arrest and uncovered messages showing that Couzins had helped organize the smuggling operation. According to the NCA, he played a key role in coordinating the plan to bring the drugs into the country.
After learning about his mother’s arrest, Couzins attempted to evade authorities but was eventually tracked down by officers in Blackpool in August 2025. During the arrest, he attempted to destroy his phone and assaulted an NCA officer while resisting detention.
Both defendants later pleaded guilty to importing Class A drugs. Couzins also admitted to assaulting the officer during his arrest.
Officials said the case demonstrates how organized drug trafficking networks continue to use family members as couriers in attempts to move large quantities of narcotics into the UK. Authorities emphasized that the NCA, working with partners including Border Force and regional police, will continue targeting smuggling operations and disrupting drug supply chains.
Investigators added that the successful prosecution highlights the importance of international cooperation and border enforcement in stopping cocaine shipments before they reach UK streets.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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