Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two young British women were arrested in Jamaica when they allegedly tried to smuggle £170,000 worth of cocaine hidden in wigs on to a London-bound plane, officials said today.
The women, aged 17 and 20 and from the Derby area, were detained after the drugs, weighing around 2.3kg, were allegedly discovered stitched into the hair pieces, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spokeswoman said.
The pair, both unemployed, had been on holiday in Jamaica for two weeks before their arrests, she added.
The women allegedly told police officers that they were to be paid £4,000 for smuggling drugs into the UK, said the HMRC spokeswoman.
They were arrested as part of Operation Airbridge, a joint UK-Jamaican collaboration to catch drugs couriers before they board planes from Jamaica.
Tony Walker, of the UK Border Agency and head of Operation Airbridge, said: "The dedication of the UK and Jamaican drugs detection officers has prevented deadly class A drugs from entering the UK.
"The Airbridge Operation is delivering real results in this and other cases by helping to protect both countries from the violence and corruption that always accompanies the trade in illegal drugs."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments