A South African grandmother caught carrying more than 3kg of cocaine hidden inside garden gnomes was found guilty of drug smuggling on Friday after a week-long trial in the Auckland High Court.
Linda Martin (52) had denied the charge, claiming she had been framed by a Nigerian drug ring that put the four drug-filled gnomes into a suitcase she was carrying.
The court was told Martin was arrested as she flew into Auckland’s airport on a false passport in March 2004.
She claimed she was trying to find a Nigerian drug lord called Peter who she wanted to challenge about the fate of her daughter who was arrested in London carrying drugs early in 2004.
Martin’s attorney, Barry Hart, told the Auckland High Court that she was not a sophisticated woman, had never been on a plane before, never knew what was in the suitcase and had no previous convictions.
But a jury took only two hours to reject her defence, agreeing with the prosecution that she knew the drugs were hidden in her luggage.
She is to be sentenced next month. – Sapa-DPA