Met worker denies smuggling cocaine as porridge

A Metropolitan Police call-handler has denied attempting to smuggle cocaine into the UK disguised as peanut porridge in her luggage.

Donna'ree Bennett, 33, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, where she pleaded not guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition relating to the alleged importation of a Class A drug on 19 April 2024.

She also pleaded not guilty to two charges of transferring and possessing criminal property alleged to represent the proceeds of crime between 1 November 2022 and 31 January 2024. The case followed an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation.

A trial was set for 23 August next year and Bennett, of Hackney, was granted unconditional bail.

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