A woman was jailed for smuggling drugs through Liverpool Airport after being influenced by her boyfriend.
Burton loaded drugs onto lorries. Police stopped the lorries at Dover. Burton had past drug convictions and smuggled over 300 kg of drugs. The drugs were worth about £20 million, and he earned £20,000-30,000 monthly.
Banks loved Burton’s lifestyle. She helped with the lorry shipments, smuggling cocaine and ketamine using Liverpool Airport. Banks also let Burton use her bank account. This helped him while he was on the run.
Burton claimed he was forced into smuggling. The judge delayed his sentencing to examine his plea of modern slavery. Banks was sentenced; the judge thought she knew Burton dealt drugs.
Paul Valder, the prosecutor, explained the case. It involved drug smuggling and supply of cocaine, heroin, and ketamine. Burton and Banks were partners from Liverpool.
Burton had been a convicted drug supplier. He pleaded guilty to drug smuggling and fled the UK after an arrest in 2021. Burton continued dealing drugs in Europe, moving between Holland, Germany, and Spain.
He smuggled drugs via lorries to Dover. The drugs included cocaine, heroin, and ketamine. Banks’ DNA connected her to a drug shipment, specifically on the drug packaging.
Her phone showed she often visited Burton in Europe. She smuggled drugs back to the UK for him and let Burton use her bank accounts. Banks also provided fake COVID passes for travel.
Burton was arrested in Europe for drug trafficking. He then moved to Spain, where Banks often visited him. Burton said he would vacuum pack drugs in Amsterdam.
Messages showed Banks knew about the drugs, using code words like “tops.” The flat was in Amsterdam, and Banks visited it. Burton said he would be busy with “135 bits.”
Banks knew what he meant. The lorry with drugs then started its journey. Banks said Burton needed to pay someone back. She noted his income was far greater than hers.
Border officers stopped the lorry and found cocaine and ketamine. The street value was over £6.5 million. Burton’s DNA was on a drug packet meant for someone named Jota.
Burton told Banks the lorry was stopped. She worried about her fingerprints. Burton said she was safe since she had no record. Banks then asked Burton for money, as she was always broke.
She visited Amsterdam again. Another lorry left Poland for Dover. Only Burton’s DNA was found. The prosecution said Banks smuggled drugs, bringing them back to the UK.
Banks said the cocaine smelled strong,. This affected the ketamine smell too. She worried about police at the airport, but she got the drugs through. This was her second time smuggling.
Burton feared police watched him. He moved everything, and Banks visited him again. Burton owed money, with vacuum packing issues causing debt to rise. He considered jail.
Burton moved to Spain, where Banks visited him. He used a fake name when arrested in Ibiza. Officers checked Banks’ accounts and found unexplained deposits.
Money went toward Burton while he was hiding. Banks was arrested in 2023, suspected of assisting an offender and facing money laundering charges.
Police searched her home and found a letter from Burton. It was from a Spanish prison, referring to his extradition to Germany. Her phone had related chats.
She was arrested again, suspected of importing drugs and fraud. She pleaded guilty at her trial, as did Burton, who pleaded guilty to drug importing.
Maris Fridvalds got 14 years for being a courier. Banks’ lawyer said she wanted to be sentenced to be near her family. He said she ruined her own life.
Banks earned certificates in prison. References showed a good side to her. The judge said Banks loved Burton. She loved the lifestyle, and they became criminals.
The judge said Banks handled ketamine and laundered money. He sentenced Banks to five years and wished her well.
John Turner said Burton and Banks smuggled drugs. They thought they could act freely. Banks helped launder money and supported drug importations. He said the drugs would hurt communities.