A woman has been jailed for nearly 10 years after admitting trying to smuggle cocaine worth £360,000 (€450,000) into the United Kingdom strapped to the bodies of two children.
Housewife Elisa Vazquez Sanchez was stopped by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers after flying into London's Heathrow airport from Mexico last March.
More than 9.2 kilos of cocaine were found strapped to the legs of a 13-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl and in their luggage.
Vazquez Sanchez (40), from Mexico, was jailed for nine and half years at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty.
"The use of such young children in the smuggling of drugs demonstrates the ruthless nature of those criminal gangs involved in the illegal drugs trade," Peter Avery, assistant director of HMRC criminal investigations, said in a statement.
"HMRC officers have prevented a large amount of cocaine hitting the streets of the UK."
Judge Lowen told Sanchez during sentencing she "should be ashamed of herself".
The two children have been taken into the care of social services.