Couple in court over 5kg cocaine haul at Cardiff airport
27.09.05
A husband and wife caught bringing 5kg's cocaine into Wales claimed they were on a romantic trip to celebrate their wedding anniversary, a court heard yesterday.
Nigerian couple Gbolahan Odunlami, 61, and Maria Aranmolate, 50, were stopped at Cardiff International Airport when Customs officers smelled fresh glue on their luggage. They found 5kg of cocaine behind false panels glued into a briefcase and rucksack.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Aranmolate claimed her husband knew nothing about the drugs. But the prosecution say it was a joint enterprise. Odunlami said, 'My wife made all the travel arrangements and she bought new bags. I had no reason to think she was smuggling cocaine.'
Prosecutor Dominic Connolly said, 'They were stopped by Customs officers after travelling from Nigeria via Amsterdam. Six packets of cocaine were found hidden in secret compartments in their hand luggage.'
'Odunlami claimed he knew nothing about the drugs and that they had flown to Cardiff to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Neither of them had ever visited Wales before, they were not visiting any family and had not booked any accommodation.'
Aranmolate admits smuggling cocaine. Odunlami denies it. The trial continues.
To book a hotel cardiff airport or parking cardiff airport at the lowest price, click on these links to two great parking cardiff airport and hotel cardiff airport hotels comparison pages.
