A drugs smuggler intercepted on her way to Belfast with £48,000 worth of cannabis was jailed for 18 months today.
Natasja Williams, 29, of dual British and South African nationality, was stopped at Birmingham International Airport after arriving on a flight from her home in Johannesburg.
She was arrested by customs officers after 18 kilos of herbal cannabis was found in her baggage on February 10.
Williams, who was intending to fly on to Belfast, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle the drugs under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
Bob Lyne, senior business manager for HM Revenue and Customs said: "Our continuing vigilance has prevented these drugs from reaching their destination.
"We will do everything in our power to disrupt drug smuggling and reduce the associated harm to our communities.
"We aim to protect society from this activity wherever we detect it, at the borders or inland, and hope this sends a clear message that our approach is one of zero-tolerance."