19-Year-Old Sentenced for Cannabis Smuggling at Newcastle Airport
Daniella KanKam-Adu, a 19-year-old from London, was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence for 18 months on March 3, 2025, for attempting to smuggle 22.5kg of cannabis into Newcastle Airport. The cannabis, valued at £225,000, was discovered by Border Force in her luggage upon arrival from Canada.
KanKam-Adu claimed she believed the suitcase contained vapes, having been offered £250 to transport it to evade taxes. She admitted to realizing the contents were likely cannabis due to the luggage’s weight, but proceeded, needing money for a housing deposit. She pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of import restrictions.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw noted KanKam-Adu’s obstructive behavior during the luggage search, as she lacked a key and denied any concerning contents. The court accepted her plea that she was unaware of the drugs’ full value and acted under a friend’s instructions, with travel arranged to Toronto.
Defence counsel Glenn Gatland highlighted KanKam-Adu’s difficult childhood in care and her pregnancy at the time of the offense, noting her intent to secure a stable home. After three months in custody, during which she suffered a miscarriage, the court deemed her time served a sufficient deterrent.