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Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
American who smuggled £800,000 of cocaine in parmesan cheese jailed
An American caught with crack cocaine stashed in a hollowed-out cheese wheel gave a brie-lliant excuse for border guards. Jamie Choi, 23, from California, was stopped as she tried to enter the UKafter arriving on a flight from Brazil on 25 May this year. There was one question Heathrow border guards had for her. 'What's with the massive 8kg cheese?' Choi tried to bluff officers insisting that a friend had begged her to buy the parmesan from the famous cheesemaking country of Peru to bring back to London for them all to try. But when officers examined the cheese, they found it contained 94 per cent pure crack cocaine – giving it a street value of £800,000. The National Crime Agency, took over the investigation, tracing Choi's route zig-zagging across South America after flying from Los Angeles to Lima on 20 May 2025. By the next day, Choi had flown to Asuncion, Paraguay, staying there until 24 May when she flew to Heathrow Airport after changing at Sau Paulo, Brazil. But only a single notebook entry was found in Choi's handbag dated 21 May 2025 – the day she left Lima. It read: 'I dropped out of UCSB [University of California Santa Barbara] on Monday. Currently I am in Paraguay in South America solo travelling for the first time. It's been amazing so far.' Choi, who was charged with importing Class A drugs, pleaded guilty to the offence at Isleworth Crown Court on 6 August. NCA senior investigating officer, Barry Vinall, said: 'We've seen people trying to smuggle cocaine into the UK hidden inside all manner of innocuous looking items, but Border Force and the National Crime Agency are well-practised in finding drugs, whatever the disguise. 'Smuggling drugs into the UK is simply not a risk work taking – it has consequences, as seen in this case.' Choi has been jailed for five years and three months today. More Trending It came after three Britons escaped the death penalty in Indonesia after being caught with cocaine hidden in Angel Delight packets. Lisa Stocker, Jonathan Collyer and Phineas Float from East Sussex were stopped at Bali's international airport with 17 packages of cocaine in February. Stocker, who is a mum-of-three, and her partner Collyer had travelled together via Qatar while Float was accused of receiving the packages at an airport hotel. But Stocker broke down in tears and told the court she was tricked into carrying the drugs, with her friend telling her it was Angel Delight.
Metro
25-07-2025
- Metro
British drug mules who ‘thought cocaine was Angel Delight' spared death penalty
Three British people who allegedly smuggled drugs into Bali have been spared the death penalty and were let off with a one-year sentence. Lisa Stocker, Jonathan Collyer and Phineas Float from East Sussex were stopped at Bali's international airport with 17 packages of cocaine in February. Stocker, who is a mum-of-three, and her partner Collyer had travelled together via Qatar while Float was accused of receiving the packages at an airport hotel. But Stocker broke down in tears and told the court she was tricked into carrying the drugs, with her friend telling her it was Angel Delight. Collyer admitted they were 'very stupid', and insisted they would not do it again. The trio faced the death penalty under Indonesia's strict drug laws, but judge Heriyanti said he was reducing their sentence because they all behaved 'politely'. He handed down a one-year sentence, with the group expected to be released in February. Convicted drug traffickers can be executed by firing squad in the country, and if they are spared the death penalty are often sentenced to life in prison. But the nation has not carried out an execution since 2016 and in the last few months has repatriated several foreign convicts of drug offences. Stocker had broken down in tears as she told the court she had been tricked into carrying the packages. Meanwhile Float got into a shouting match at a previous hearing, telling a journalist to 'f*** off' on the first day of his trial. Collyer's dad Julian said he was in 'deep shock' for his son, with whom he had only been in contact once in the last three weeks. He told MailOnline: 'I'm very, very worried as any father or parent would be.' More Trending Dean, a friend of Jon's said he was unaware the couple had travelled to Indonesia and said the situation was 'an absolute mess'. Several high profile foreign drug smugglers have been allowed to return home from Indonesia in recent months. Serge Atlaoui, who was sentenced to death for drug offences in 2007, was repatriated to France in February. Last December Philippine drug convict Mary Jane Veloso was returned to Manila after more than a decade on death row. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Idaho killer's Tinder match reveals disturbing question he asked on date MORE: Pastor and wife took $3,400,000 from congregation in crypto scam attributed to God MORE: Man charged with murder after boy, 15, killed in e-bike crash in Middleton
Scottish Sun
24-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Brit ‘drug mules' avoid death penalty over £300k plot in Bali as court reveals short sentence due to ‘polite behaviour'
The trio are expected to be released early next year TRIO SPARED Brit 'drug mules' avoid death penalty over £300k plot in Bali as court reveals short sentence due to 'polite behaviour' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THREE Brits who faced the death penalty for allegedly smuggling £300,000 of cocaine into Bali have been let off with a one-year sentence. The trio from Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex were stopped at Bali's international airport in February with 17 packages of cocaine, according to court documents. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Alleged drug mules Lisa Stocker, Jonathan Collyer and Phineas Float receive their sentence at court in Denpasar in Indonesia's Bali on Thursday Credit: AFP 5 Stocker and Collyer weep during their trial Credit: AFP 5 Each has been given a 12-month prison term Credit: EPA Lisa Stocker, 39, a mum-of-three, and her partner, Jon Collyer, 39, had travelled from the UK via Qatar and were stopped in Indonesia's capital after a routine airport x-ray detected suspicious packages. The couple first appeared in court on February 3 alongside Phineas Float, 31, who was accused of receiving the packages at an airport hotel. Presiding judge Heriyanti said on Thursday morning that all three suspects had violated article 131 of Indonesian Narcotic law. But Heriyanti added that the trio had admitted their offences and behaved "politely", and as a result, he was reducing their sentence. All three defendants said that they accepted the verdict and would not file an appeal. They have been serving time since February, which will count towards their sentence. This means they are expected to be released early next year. In the past, convicted drug traffickers - especially those caught with large amounts - have been executed by firing squads in Indonesia. Those who escape the death penalty are often sentenced to life imprisonment. In mid-July, lead prosecutor Made Dipa Umbara suggested the trio might be able to avoid a serious prison sentence. New CCTV of Brit 'mule' Bella May Culley 'smuggling £200k of cannabis' released as cops slam her claims she was coerced He announced they will ask to "sentence the defendants to one year in prison" each, minus the time already served. Umbara noted that all three had behaved well in court, apologised for their role in the smuggling plot and promised not to reoffend. On July 15, Ms Stocker broke down in tears as she told the court she had been conned into carrying illicit packages. She claimed a friend gave her the packages of Angel Delight in the UK and asked her to take them to Bali. Ms Stocker said in June: "Jon and I had been to Bali twice carrying packages from [him]. I was shocked after finding out it was cocaine." In mid-July, she again claimed she had no idea that her suitcase was full of narcotics. Her partner, Mr Collyer, admitted what they did was "very stupid" as he told Judge Heriyanti: "I won't do it again." Mr Float remained quiet as he sat in court after being involved in a shouting match during a previous hearing. Back in June, while walking to the courtroom for the first day of his trial he yelled at journalist "f*** off". 5 Phineas Float attends his trial Credit: AFP
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tale of two Bali drug mules as Angel Delight trio get hope while gran gets death
For 12 long years, British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford has remained on death row in Indonesia for charges of drug smuggling. Now, the so-called Angel Delight smugglers could walk free in a matter of months, despite being convicted of similar charges When a British trio of drug mules were first caught smuggling more than 900 grams of cocaine into Bali in Angel Delight packets, it was feared they could face the firing squad. In a move that has no doubt shocked and delighted Lisa Stocker, 39, her partner, Jon Collyer, 39, and accomplice Phineas Float, 31, in equal measure, they have instead been sentenced to just one year in jail, meaning they could soon be back on British soil. The three from East Sussex pleaded guilty to smuggling £300,000 worth of cocaine after they were arrested in Bali's international airport on February 1, following a routine X-Ray bag search. Ten Angel Delight sachets were found stashed in Collyer's luggage, which, combined with seven sachets in Stocker's suitcase, added up to 922 grams of the Class A drug. Float, who was due to receive the packages, was arrested a few days later. But the lenient outcome is a world away from the sentence handed down to drug mule grandmother Lindsay Sandiford. Sandiford, 69, is locked up in the same hell-hole prison as Stocker, Kerobokan Jail, after being found guilty of similar charges. Brits who smuggled Angel Delight drugs into Bali to spend just 6 months in jail Bali death row drug mule nan Lindsay Sandiford in heartbreaking prison reunion For the past 12 years, the mum of two has been languishing on death row, having been caught trying to smuggle £1.6million worth of cocaine into Indonesia. The former legal secretary from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, claimed she was forced by a UK-based drugs syndicate to smuggle cocaine from Thailand to Bali by threats to the life of one of her two sons in Britain. Under Indonesia's strict drug laws, s he faces an horrific death by firing squad, whereby prisoners are given the option of sitting or standing before armed soldiers aim for their hearts. Executions in Indonesia are carried out on an infrequent basis, and inmates can be left waiting on death row for more than a decade. The last executions in Indonesia took place in 2015, and as previously reported by the Mirror, some 130 prisoners, including Sandiford, continue to await their nightmarish fate. Before their own sentencing, Stocker, Collyer, and Float would have feared a similar outcome. But explaining the uncharacteristically lenient sentence, criminologist and psychologist Alex Iszatt tells The Mirror their nightmare is far from over: "Unlike many foreign drug offenders in Indonesia who face long sentences or even the death penalty, this case is unusual for the relatively light sentencing. The court pointed to their remorse and polite behaviour as mitigating factors." "But that doesn't make their time behind bars any easier. Jonathan Collyer, Lisa Stocker, and Phineas Float have avoided execution, yes, but their one-year prison sentences will still be brutal – marked by harsh conditions, isolation, and a heavy psychological toll, even for such a short term. "Foreign inmates sometimes fare slightly better, but basic necessities – clean water, medical care, even a decent place to sleep – are often in short supply. These prisons are nothing like what Brits expect. Physical violence might be less common because of their short sentences, but extortion, intimidation, and psychological pressure remain very real risks. "Health concerns add another layer of difficulty. Lisa reportedly has pre-existing skin cancer, and Indonesia's prisons have very limited healthcare facilities. These prisons are also hotspots for diseases like tuberculosis and dengue fever, while chronic illnesses often go untreated. The mental strain is severe. After the terror of facing the death penalty, the shock of incarceration, even for a year, can cause intense anxiety and depression. Language barriers and social isolation only make it worse." Their surprising sentence comes after Bali relaxed its notorious drug smuggling laws, giving Sandiford a ray of hope that she too could one day be reunited with her family. Indeed, new legislation means Sandiford's death sentence could be converted into a life prison term as she has served more than 10 years behind bars with good behaviour. Indonesia has recently freed other smugglers serving similar sentences as it relaxes its notoriously tough anti-drug laws. And it's understood that Sandiford is so confident in her chances of walking free, she's started giving away her clothes to fellow inmates. Earlier this year, a source told the Mirror:"For a long time Lindsay was resigned to her fate, but now she's dreaming of freedom. Foreign Office officials have spent a lot of time visiting her in prison, and they're working hard to secure her freedom." In recent months, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration has moved to repatriate several high-profile drug offenders back to their home countries. This includes Serge Atlaoui, who was returned to France back in February on 'humanitarian grounds' due to illness. Meanwhile, in February, Pilipino maid Mary Jane Veloso, 40, also tasted freedom for the first time in 15 years after she was found carrying 2.6kg (5.7lb) of heroin at Indonesia's Yogyakarta airport, while five members of the notorious Bali Nine were freed in December despite being convicted of trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005. Now prison insiders say Sandiford is praying for similar treatment and believes she will be spared a trip to Nusa Kambangan, known as "Execution Island". Lawyers could then argue she should be returned to the UK, where she is likely to go free on the basis of time served in Indonesia. In March 2024, human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC, who visited Sandiford in 2015, called for her to be returned home to Britain, in light of the legislative changes. She stated: 'Indonesia is taking an important step in recognising the need to commute the sentences of those subject to the death penalty, especially women. Lindsay cooperated with the authorities and explained levels of coercion that should have at least mitigated her position. 'The Government should be taking active steps to facilitate her return to the UK, either to serve a sentence near her family or to consider her release.' According to data by the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, approximately 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are currently on death row in Indonesia, with the majority locked up for drug-related crimes. Despite having some of the strictest drug laws anywhere in the world, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime says the country is a major drug-smuggling hotspot. This is partly due to international drug gangs targeting the younger population.
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Daily Record
Brits who smuggled Angel Delight drugs into Bali sentenced to jail time
Lisa Stocker, Jon Collyer, and Phineas Float feared the death penalty. Three Brits who smuggled £300,000 worth of cocaine into Bali stuffed in packets of the Angel Delight were today given a last-minute reprieve and will be returned to the UK in months. Lisa Stocker, 39, partner, Jon Collyer, 39, and accomplice Phineas Float, 31, feared they could be executed under Indonesia's strict anti-drugs laws. Collyer and Stocker were arrested on February 1 after being stopped by customs at the X-ray machine at Bali's international airport. 992 grams of the Class A drug was found concealed across 10 sachets of Angel Delight in Collyer's luggage combined with 7 similar sachets in his partner's suitcase. The couple faced the death penalty and previously pleaded for freedom despite Indonesia's strict legislation. However, today a judge at Denpasar central court chose not to impose the death penalty after they admitted smuggling the narcotics into the island, reports the Mirror. Instead the drug mules and their accomplice were given a year in hell-hole prisons before they are likely booted out of the country. Given time served, the trio will likely be back in the UK by January. Mum-of-three Stocker remained silent when she was handed her sentence alongside her husband Collyer. Float was handed the same lenient sentence and will now spend his time in Bali's infamous Kerobokan Prison. The court heard they had agreed to take part in the plot for a "reward" of 500,000 Indonesia Rupiah - the same as just £22.50. "Always check what is in your bag before you travel,' Collyer told reporters when he left the court. The East Sussex pair, pleaded guilty to smuggling 922 grams of cocaine disguised in 10 packets of the popular dessert Angel Delight. Stocker and Collyer had travelled from the UK through Qatar and were arrested following a routine X-Ray bag search when they landed in Bali. Cops later arrested Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, after a controlled operation which saw the other two suspects hand the drugs to him at the Grand Mas Airport Hotel carpark in Denpasar. He is being tried separately. Police are said to have used the couple to lure Float by sending Collyer and Stocker to meet him in an airport car park - where the trio were due to meet for an exchange on February 3. The group managed to slip past Indonesian authorities twice before, but were caught on their third attempt, said Ponco Indriyo, the deputy director of the Bali Police Narcotics Unit. 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. In a previous court appearance, last week, Stocker issued a grovelling apology to the judge crying that she "won't trust people so easily again". The mum-of-three wept as she claimed to Judge Heriyanti that she had no idea what was in the dessert mix packets. She said: "I didn't know the packages were cocaine. I apologise. From now on I won't trust people so easily and will be more careful. Collyer, who comforted his wife throughout proceedings, uttered just five words and said: "I won't do it again." Float, who has previously served time in jail in the UK for armed robbery and drug-dealing, told journalists gathered to "f**k off" as he was led into the courtroom last week. He previously told the court "I was very stupid" and has spent months in Bali's notorious hell-hole Kerobokan prison. Last week he told the court: "I was very stupid to take the packages of cocaine. I regret it and apologise." Stocker previously claimed that she had been given the Angel Delight packages in the UK by a friend to bring to Bali. She claimed that she had been framed on the second day of their trial on June 10. She said: "Jon and I had been to Bali twice carrying packages from (this friend). I was shocked after finding out it was cocaine." Collyer meanwhile told the court that he had not been given money to go to Bali and that he paid the cost of flights and hotels himself. However, police prosecutor Made Umbara alleged that a man in the UK who allegedly gave Stocker and Collyer the cocaine, paid Collyer £2,130 to cover the cost of accommodation and flights from the UK to Bali. People found guilty of breaking Indonesia's strict drug laws typically face extremely harsh punishments, including lengthy prison sentences or, in some cases, execution by a firing squad. According to data by the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections', around 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime says the country is a major drug-smuggling hotspot despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world - partly because international drug gangs target its young population.
