Daniel Ramsay-Bradshaw and John Cooney had travelled from America
The pair were stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport(Image: MEN MEDIA)
Two men who tried to import cannabis from America gave officers the ‘same prepared script’ when they were caught.
Daniel Ramsay-Bradshaw, 34 and John Cooney, 26, had both flown out to Texas to collect the drugs before trying to smuggle it through Manchester Airport. But their plan quickly unravelled and they gave the same answers to Border Force officers when they were stopped.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that they had ‘financial advantage in mind’ when deciding to take part in the smuggling bid. Prosecuting, Ellie-Louise Fradley said that Cooney and Ramsey-Bradshaw had both flown into Manchester Airport in December 2023 from Texas in the United States, via Frankfurt in Germany.
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Both had two suitcases, and gave the ‘same prepared script’ to Border Force officers, saying that they had packed the bags themselves and that no-one had forced them to bring anything.
When officers searched the suitcases, they found black vacuum sealed packages containing cannabis. The cannabis seized weighed a total of 48.7 kilograms.
The pair were arrested and replied ‘no comment’ to questions when they were interviewed by police. “Each of you had planned for the situation if you were stopped by customs officers. You had the same prepared script,” sentencing Judge Tina Landale told the pair.
“It is clear both of you intended to benefit yourselves in a significant way by cancelling drug debts, and had a financial advantage in mind.
“The amount of cannabis you were importing was hugely significant, 48.7 kilograms, which would have been in the streets of Manchester ruining people’s lives.”
Defending Cooney, Mark Friend said his case was ‘depressingly familiar’, explaining how the defendant had become involved after receiving an offer to have his drug debt wiped out if he imported the drugs.
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He said Cooney had issues with drug misuse ‘for some time’ and had built up a significant debt. Mr Friend said Cooney has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
Representing Ramsey-Bradshaw, Helena Williams said that the defendant cares for four children together with his partner. She is a full-time mother and Ramsey-Bradshaw supports the family financially, the court heard.
He had lost his job prior to the importation bid but has since found new work, Ms Williams said.
Cooney, of Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside; and Ramsey-Bradshaw, of Stainbeck Avenue, Leeds; both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug.
They were both sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for two years. They were also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.