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A couple who said they were travelling to Manchester for their ‘honeymoon’ have ended up in jail after their suitcases were found stuffed full of cannabis.
Jeng Chow, 30, and Ley Wat, 25, were travelling from their native Malaysia with 28 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana and had even made a stop over in Qatar.
But the couple, understood to be engaged, were arrested in Terminal 2 of Manchester Airport in April.
The Class B drugs were worth £99,000 at wholesale prices but the street value would have been ‘much higher’, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Wat, who was said to be in debt, was in contact with smugglers and promised cash following a successful handover.
They couple sat in the dock, side by side, as they were sentenced – at one point, they shared a hug and a kiss.
They were jailed and will be deported back to Malaysia once their sentences have been completed.
Prosecuting, Isobel Thomas earlier told the court Chow and Wat were taken to Pendleton police station and interviewed after being stopped by Border Force officers.
Jeng Chow, 30 (pictured), and Ley Wat, 25, were travelling from their native Malaysia to Manchester for their ‘honeymoon’ with 28 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana
Wat (pictured), who was said to be in debt, was in contact with smugglers and promised cash following a successful handover
The couple were arrested in Terminal 2 of Manchester Airport in April despite having a stop over in Qatar
Chow said he and Wat were married and had travelled to the UK for their honeymoon but answered ‘no comment’ to further questions while Wat told officers she thought her suitcase contained alcohol.
Wat has since said she and Chow were in contact with a third party and that someone was going to pick up the drugs at the airport in exchange for money.
Neither Chow or Wat have previous criminal convictions.
Defending Chow, Mark Shanks said he was in legitimate employment back at home, but that he became a drug mule through Wat.
Mr Shanks said the couple were due to be paid £800 each.
He said Chow has a supportive family back home and that he wants to return to as soon as possible.
Richard Vardon, defending Wat, said she agreed to become involved after getting into debt.
‘She has paid a high price for that,’ he added.
Prison has been a ‘big shock to her system’, Mr Vardon said, adding that she desperately wants to return home to her family.
Chow and Wat both pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a Class B drug.
They were both sentenced to a year and three months by judge Recorder Sarah Holt.
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