'We jumped at dream holiday - but our lives were shattered when cops opened the cases'

Two glamorous friends who were caught smuggling more than 35kg of in their suitcase on a flight home to the UK have spoken out for the first time since their 15-month 'torture'.

Sophie Bannister, 30, and Levi-April Whalley, 31, from Blackburn, told shopping spree in New York City when they were stopped at Birmingham International Airport. However, their bags were searched and the - to the street value of more than £160,000 - were quickly discovered.

When a staggering 70 heat-sealed packages were found tucked away in the luggage, Whalley frantically insisted the parcels contained watches. But the truth soon unravelled, as text messages revealed that the high-flying pals were part of a major plot to bring drugs into the UK. They both later pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of prohibition.

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The jet-setting pair flaunted their idyllic travels across the world on their Instagram accounts before they were caught, posting bikini snaps in the likes of Thailand, and Ibizia, and lapping up tourist attractions like Times Square. But their dream world soon came crashing down when the reality of their actions dawned on them.

In December 2023, Bannister and Whalley told Border Force officials they had been on a three-day shopping trip to the Big Apple. But text messages between them later revealed they had become involved in a plot to import cannabis and expected to make a lot of cash from their exploits.

The 'unbreakable' friends sobbed and held hands as they were handed suspended sentences at Preston Crown Court this week; Bannister's 20-month term was suspended for 18 months and Whalley was handed a 16-month sentence, also suspended for 18 months. The court heard that both women were vulnerable to exploitation due to their own personal and financial circumstances.

And now the friends, who have expressed huge regret over their life-changing crime, have told The how they found themselves in the centre of a cannabis operation. Their journey into the drug smuggling apparently all started with one message on social media. "We got approached on by a girl I'd met in Marbella," Sophie claimed. "She asked if we wanted to travel to New York around . All we had to do was bring some watches back."

The pals say they both had their own reasons for saying yes to what seemed like a dream deal. Sophie was in debt after moving temporarily to Dubai, and Levi wanted to escape from 'personal issues' she was experiencing at home. Plus, they saw the trip as an opportunity to travel. "Back then I wasn't even thinking about the consequences or the risk. I've always wanted to go on to New York, since I was a little girl," Levi admitted. They'd both seen other girls on social media doing the same trip - even down to the same flight and route - so went ahead with it. "We were stupid and naive and vulnerable," Sophie said.

The glamorous friends made the most of their New York adventure, seemingly unphased by the suitcases packed with drugs that they were about to fly home with. In one story from their trip, Whalley shared photos on a bus tour of the American city, and later at the Statue of Liberty. Bannister, meanwhile, posed with a Starbucks cup in the famous Times Square. "You just enjoy the holiday and don't really have to think about what you were actually doing," Levi said.

Both women claim they weren't "fully aware" of the case's contents, however, the judge told the court: "You were both aware that, having travelled from New York to Birmingham via Paris, you had in your respective suitcases a significant quantity of heat-sealed bags containing 35.5kg of cannabis."

When asked why they didn't raise the alarm before travelling home with the drugs, Sophie said: "We were too deep in it by that point and they knew a lot about where we both lived, our families and stuff. It was very stupid. The biggest mistake. We'll regret it for the rest of our lives."

When Border Force officers opened their luggage, they found more than 70 heat-sealed packages of drugs inside. Sophie was carrying cannabis with an estimated street value of £40,500, and Levi had a stash worth £121,500 — more than £160,000 in total.

Levi recalls feeling like they were "being watched" at the airport before the drug stash was discovered, and the panic soon set in. "We could have still probably chosen to leave the bags, I don't know, but I think I felt we were just too far deep in it," the 31-year-old said. "It was the panic. I do question myself now, like if we would have left the bags, what would the outcome have been then?"

Describing the moment they were caught, Levi added: "I can't even describe it our hearts sank. It was that moment you just, your life shattered. We were both crying, thinking, oh, God, what are we going to do? We just looked at each other and thought. What the f****, what have we done? What have we really got ourselves wrapped up in here?"

The friends were taken to a police station after being arrested. Sophie said that due to suffering a panic attack, she never saw the inside of a police cell, but Levi was detained for 24 hours before they were both allowed to go home until their court date.

When they got home, their lives changed instantly. Sophie was "kicked out" of her family home because her mum felt she had brought shame on the family. "I went to a private boarding school, my mum is the director of a company, and they just can't seem to comprehend it," she said.

While Levi's family supported her throughout, she lost her job as a nurse, and her license is currently suspended with the intention of being revoked. "I had a good career in the nursing sector, so I always saw myself just being this nurse. I've had to rebuild my whole life in the last 15 months, completely, from a career I've always been in since the age of 18."

Over the last 15 months, the duo have come to terms with the consequences of their crime. "We both fully hold our hands up, we are remorseful, and we're sorry. We're not saying we haven't done anything wrong, we're aware of our actions and the consequences."

Neither have committed any other crimes since. Levi has just become a mum to a five-month-old baby girl and her mum sadly passed away last week, just before her sentencing. Judge Richard Archer took these mitigating factors into account when sentencing the pair on Wednesday. He said: "This was not your cannabis, but cannabis you were carrying on behalf of another. You were expecting a significant financial advantage for doing what you did. You discussed it in relation to this trip to New York, with a clear view of the money you were going to make from behaving this way."

"You perhaps had little regard for the seriousness or consequences of your offending. It must have been in the back of your mind that you would be caught, but you probably thought very little about sitting in the dock this afternoon. I very much hope that you don't involve yourselves in this behaviour again."

Sophie received a suspended sentence and must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work. Meanwhile Levi, who was carrying the larger amount of cannabis, must complete 10 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work, also receiving a suspended sentence.

Since their sentencing, the pair have received a barrage of abusive messages online. "They speak about my daughter and even my mum who has just passed away. It's evil. We've done wrong, but I've not murdered anyone. I'm not saying what we did wasn't bad, because it still is," Levi said.

The pair hope to work together to raise awareness about how people can be deceived into drug smuggling by criminals flashing a life of luxury in front of them. The amount of cannabis seized from travellers entering UK airports has drastically increased, with last year seeing five times more than the previous year. A total of 26,924kg of cannabis was seized from around 750 smugglers.

Taking to social media after walking free, Bannister said on social media: "Thank you for the people who have stood by us [during] truly the most mentally and emotionally challenging times of our life. 15 months of torture. HUGE lessons learnt. A LOT of tears along the way. But stood by each others side no matter what.

"A true friendship which will never be broken which was proven today holding hands not knowing the outcome. Finally some closure and moving forward with our life. Ready for the biggest fresh start and realising how important freedom really is. Levi Whalley no matter what people have said we really have an unbreakable friendship."