Pensioner in court on drug smuggling charge

A PENSIONER has appeared in court charged with attempting to smuggle cocaine into the UK.

Anne Southern, 65, a British woman of an unknown address, is the second woman to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court this week on the charge of importing illegal drugs.

She was arrested at Edinburgh airport after arriving on a flight from Brussels on Tuesday afternoon.

Border Force officials say they found a significant amount of cocaine hidden in her luggage.

Another British woman, Dawn Sylla from Lancashire, appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday on a similar charge, following her arrest at Edinburgh airport on Monday.

For both incidents, the cocaine will be measured for its weight and purity.

A spokeswoman for the Border Force says there is no known connection between the two cases.

Southern made no plea or declaration and she was remanded in custody. The case is expected to be heard again within a week.