Alleged drug mule faces 60 years for 'trying to smuggle cocaine'

A British beautician is facing 60 years in US jail after allegedly smuggling £3.5million worth of cocaine in her suitcases.

Kim Hall, 28, from Middlesbrough, was stopped at Chicago's O'Hare airport as she prepared to board a connecting flight to Manchester.

Homeland Security investigators found 43kg of cocaine packed in two suitcases. before detaining the beautician.

She claims that she was forced by two men forced to smuggle the drugs after offering her a free trip to Cancun and then threatening her once she arrived. 

Her father John Hall, 59, defended her saying all she is guilty of is 'stupidity and naivety'.

He told the Sun: 'She's not a drug smuggler. She was told that it would be money she was carrying. 

'They got her phone and threatened her family and that's why she did it. 

'She'd been to Portugal with a friend and met people over there who contacted her when she was back saying they were into real estate in Mexico and she could go for a free holiday.'

He added that she is 'petrified' after telling him that 'you don't understand what they were threatening me with’.

After her arrest in August, Kim was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver after her arrest in August.

Due to the amount of drugs seized, the offence is in the top bracket for sentencing, with Class X Felony which carries 15-60 years in prison.

She is being held in Chicago awaiting trial after making a number of preliminary appearances at the Circuit Court of Cook County.  

Her family have had to shell out £28,000 for a local attorney with the trial potentially a year away. 

A Cook County court spokeswoman said: 'Her next appearance is on November 13.'