Latest news with #Blanton
Metro
18-06-2025
- Metro
Drug mule mum jailed after cannabis bust at Manchester Airport
An American drug mule has been jailed for 17 months after taking 28 kilos of cannabis to Manchester Airport. Chelsea Blanton, 29, had travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia, before going from Malaysia to Manchester via Heathrow on May 7. In her suitcase, officers found 15 vacuum sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases worth £80,000, Manchester Crown Court heard. Blanton, a mum of one, told the court that she had been offered a 'life-changing' amount of $8,500 (£6,319) for the haul. The court heard that when she was arrested, Blanton made a 'false claim' regarding her visit to the UK before later admitting drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis. Jailing her, Judge Tom Gilbart said: 'You took a gamble, it didn't pay off. You now have to pay the consequences. 'Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk; you said you would be paid $8,500. 'There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part.' The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States. Blanton said that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father and that she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past. After hearing her statements, the judge added: 'I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family. 'You have a 12-year-old child; he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made. You described this opportunity as life-changing, and I accept that you would have received significant financial gain.' Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States. One woman who secreted almost 100 pellets of cocaine inside her body and her bra showed Border Force officers pictures of the drugs on her phone when confronted. More Trending Mother-of-four Larissa Lins, 27, was stopped at Manchester Airport after flying in from Brazil on August 24 last year. She claimed she had come to the UK to 'research nice places' having previously flown through France and Portugal, Manchester Crown Court heard. Denying she had brought anything illegal into the country, she voluntarily showed officers pictures of her time in France – scrolling past photos of the white pellets. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'Elite' US fast food chain to open new sites across the UK MORE: Man found 'tortured' to death in home was bound by ankles, court hears MORE: Sextortion scam warning to students after rise in number of younger victims
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Mum who tried to smuggle drugs through UK airport for ‘life-changing' £6k is jailed
Cops found 15 vacuum-sealed packages of illegal drugs in her two suitcases SMUGGLER BEHIND BARS Mum who tried to smuggle drugs through UK airport for 'life-changing' £6k is jailed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM tried to smuggle drugs through an airport after being offered a 'life-changing' £6,200. Chelsea Blanton, 29, was stopped by Border Force officers after touching down in the UK with 28kg of cannabis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up She had flown from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow on May 7. In her two suitcases, officers found 15 vacuum-sealed packages of the drug, with a wholesale value of £80,000. American Blanton told Manchester crown court that she had been offered a 'life-changing' amount of cash. But Judge Tom Gilbart said: 'You took a gamble. READ MORE ON DRUG SMUGGLING WEDDING HELLS Mule couple who claimed they were on 'honeymoon' smuggled £99k of drugs to UK "It didn't pay off.' Blanton, of no fixed address, admitted drug smuggling and got 17 months. She will serve half in jail then could be deported back to the US. Brits accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK from abroad are being locked away for a long time
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mum who tried to smuggle drugs through UK airport for ‘life-changing' £6k is jailed
A MUM tried to smuggle drugs through an airport after being offered a 'life-changing' £6,200. Chelsea Blanton, 29, was stopped by Border Force officers after touching down in the UK with 28kg of cannabis. She had flown from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow on May 7. In her two suitcases, officers found 15 vacuum-sealed packages of the drug, with a wholesale value of £80,000. American Blanton told Manchester crown court that she had been offered a 'life-changing' amount of cash. But Judge Tom Gilbart said: 'You took a gamble. READ MORE ON DRUG SMUGGLING "It didn't pay off.' Blanton, of no fixed address, admitted drug smuggling and got 17 months. She will serve half in jail then could be deported back to the US. Brits accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK from abroad are being locked away for a long time 1 Chelsea Blanton tried to smuggle drugs through an airport Credit: MEN Media
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Daily Record
American drug mule caught at UK Airport with 28 kilos of cannabis in ‘life-changing' gamble
Chelsea Blanton has been jailed after being caught at a UK Airport. An American drug mule was apprehended at a UK Airport with 28 kilos of cannabis in a 'risky gamble' for a 'life-changing' sum. Chelsea Blanton, 29, was stopped by Border Force officers on May 7 this year after having travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow. Officers found 15 vacuum sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases at Manchester Airport, reports the Manchester Evening News. Their wholesale value was £80,000, Manchester Crown Court heard. Blanton would later tell a court that she had been offered the 'life-changing' amount of $8,500. Jailing her, Judge Tom Gilbart said: 'You took a gamble, it didn't pay off. You now have to pay the consequences.' The court heard when she was arrested at Manchester Airport, Blanton made a 'false claim' regarding her visit to the UK. She later admitted drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis. 'Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk, you said you would be paid $8,500,' the judge said. 'There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part.' The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States. Blanton expressed remorse, and said in mitigation that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father. She also said she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past, the judge continued. He said: 'I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family. 'You have a 12-year-old child, he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made. 'You described this opportunity as life changing, and I accept you would have received significant financial gain.' Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States. 'Given you committed this crime having left your son with your mother, it can't be a proper or fair reason to step back from custody,' Judge Gilbart added. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Naive young mum took huge gamble for 'life-changing' sum - but it didn't pay off
Chelsea Blanton was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport but, following their discovery, the green young woman must now "pay the consequences" A drug mule caught in the UK with 28 kilos of cannabis in a "risky gamble" for a "life-changing" sum has been jailed. Chelsea Blanton "took a gamble" in attempting to bring the drugs into the UK in exchange for $8,500 (£6,200). The American woman had travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow, but she was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport on May 7 this year. Officers found 15 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases, and Blanton was arrested. The 29-year-old woman later told a court she had been offered the "life-changing" amount of $8,500 to try to smuggle the cannabis, which had a wholesale value of around £80,000. Jailing Blanton for 17 months at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Tom Gilbart said: "You took a gamble, it didn't pay off. You now have to pay the consequences." The court heard Blanton made a "false claim" regarding her visit to the UK when she was arrested at the airport. She later admitted drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis, reports Manchester Evening News. The judge continued: "Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk, you said you would be paid $8,500. There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part." The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States. Blanton expressed remorse, and said in mitigation that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father. She also said she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past, the judge continued. He said: "I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family. You have a 12-year-old child, he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made. You described this opportunity as life changing, and I accept you would have received significant financial gain.' Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States. Judge Gilbart added: "Given you committed this crime having left your son with your mother, it can't be a proper or fair reason to step back from custody."
