A young woman has shared her shock as she faced the prospect of being arrested when Border Force officers inspected her luggage at an airport. Kertania Odususi, aged 24, arrived at Edinburgh Airport from Thailand with two suitcases last March, each packed with a significant amount of cannabis. Hailing from Croydon, London, Odususi claimed she unknowingly carried the illicit substance back from a trip she was offered in exchange for transporting a large quantity of tobacco.
Upon the luggage inspection by Border Force officials, Odususi feared the worst, believing that her life was in jeopardy and that she would be taken into custody. The officers utilized bolt cutters to open the suitcases, revealing 40 vacuum-sealed packages containing approximately 20 kilograms of cannabis. Subsequently, she was apprehended, charged, and faced trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
During the trial, Odususi was accused of involvement in the fraudulent evasion and supply of a controlled drug, with details emerging that she flew from Thailand to Doha before boarding a Qatar Airways flight to Edinburgh. Customs officials detained her after she passed through passport control.
Odususi, a Criminology student at London Metropolitan University, admitted to packing the suitcases herself but claimed she lacked the key to unlock them, leading to the forced opening by authorities. Witnessing the contents, she panicked, realizing the impending arrest.
The estimated street value of the 20kg cannabis haul was £200,000, as per police assessments. Odususi disclosed that she was introduced to an individual who arranged the flights and luggage swap. Following her arrival at Edinburgh Airport, she was instructed to meet two men to hand over the suitcases. Expressing regret and admitting naivety, Odususi denied any prior knowledge of the drug shipment.
After emotional testimonies and a swift deliberation, the jury rendered majority not proven verdicts on both charges, resulting in Odususi’s acquittal from the case on Wednesday.
