How man's world unravelled after trip to Manchester Airport ended in jail sentence
US drugs mule Shawn Ross tried to get 36 kilos of cannabis worth an estimated £200,000 past customs at Manchester Airport.
A man stopped at Manchester Airport with 36 kilos of cannabis inside his luggage has been jailed. Shawn Ross, 28, was stopped at the UK flights hub while en route from his native California via Charlotte, North Carolina, to Madrid.
The American drugs mule told border officials who made the discovery: "It should have been clothes, bro."
Border Force staff cottoned on to Ross after spotting that he had already travelled to Manchester less than a month before he was stopped in April.
Ross claimed he was planning to stay in the city for two nights before visiting friends in London, but concerns were raised further when he revealed he had made no onward travel plans, Manchester Evening News reports.
Manchester Crown Court heard Ross claimed to have only one piece of hand luggage and a suitcase in the hold, but closer inspection revealed there were two cases with his name on them. He also claimed to be in the UK to build work contacts.
Prosecutor David Lees said Ross denied they were his, but then walked back to customs having told officers he didn’t have anything to declare.
Ross was then taken to the customs search room. His passport was checked and found to be legitimate. He went on to claim the bags belonged to a friend, that he didn't know what was inside them and didn't know the code to unlock them.
Mr Lees told the court Ross told officials he knew it was illegal to bring controlled drugs into the UK and denied carrying anything of that kind.
In total, there were 33 vacuum-packed packs of cannabis in one case and 37 in another. Together they weighed 36.4 kilograms, with an estimated street value of £200,000.
Mr Lees said: "The defendant said he was carrying suitcases for a colleague and said he believed they contained clothes and items for work."
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The defendant was said to have no previous convictions in the UK or in another country. Richard Vardon, defending, said in mitigation that his client was "polite, articulate and intelligent".
Mr Vardon added: "He said in his own words that this was a 'big mistake that will never be repeated'. He comes from a decent family. He has a good work ethic and there is genuine regret and remorse."
Judge Elliott Knopf said in his sentencing remarks: "Drugs are a big problem in this country and in yours. Others are making big money off this sort of activity - there is a market for this stuff. It’s quite clear you knew what you were about."
Ross was jailed for 30 months, with Judge Knopf adding there is a likelihood he may be deported back to the US after serving his sentence.