A 19-year-old pregnant woman who tried to smuggle over 22 kilograms of cannabis into the UK has avoided a prison sentence after the court heard her story of desperation, vulnerability, and personal tragedy.
Daniella Kankam-Adu, from London, was arrested on March 3 at Newcastle Airport after arriving from Toronto. She told authorities she believed she was transporting vaping products in exchange for £250, but Border Force officers discovered her suitcase was packed with cannabis valued at £225,000 on the street.
Though she initially denied any wrongdoing, her refusal to unlock the bags led officers to force them open, revealing 22.5 kilograms of the drug—worth £67,500 at wholesale.
Prosecutors said that while Kankam-Adu did not know the precise contents of the suitcase, she admitted to growing suspicious due to its weight. She later pleaded guilty to attempting to evade a ban on drug importation.
In court, defence lawyer Glenn Gatland portrayed Kankam-Adu as a vulnerable young woman with a difficult upbringing, who had been in the care system. She had recently discovered she was pregnant and, facing uncertainty and a lack of stable housing, was lured into the smuggling plan by a friend promising quick money.
While on remand, Kankam-Adu spent three months in custody and tragically suffered a miscarriage. Her lawyer said the ordeal had profoundly impacted her and served as a life-changing warning.
Given the circumstances, the court opted for leniency, acknowledging her vulnerability, lack of prior convictions, and the emotional trauma she endured.
