A British influencer will spend 16 months in jail after being sentenced on Thursday, after nearly £150,000 worth of cannabis was discovered in her bags at Edinburgh Airport.
The 23-year-old, Ellie Crampsie, from Broomhouse, Glasgow, was admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to assisting in the supply of cannabis following the discovery made by Border Force officials, which occurred when she landed on April 16, 2024. She was returning to Scotland after flying from Thailand to Paris on an Air France flight.
The police discovered 17 vacuum-packed cannabis packages totaling 17.7 kilograms and worth between £115,000 and £151,000 (approximately €172,000).
Crampsie has around 5,500 followers on Instagram and 6,000 on TikTok. She operates a beauty company called “Brows by Ellie” and is known in the Glasgow social scene.
According to prosecutor Emma Laing, Crampsie got detained following a routine questioning by border force officials.
“She was asked the usual questions by the officer, and she confirmed she had traveled from Thailand,” Laing said. “Her luggage was opened, and a number of vacuum packages were within.”
Crampsie revealed to the jury that her boyfriend threatened and coerced her into transporting the drugs. Michael Poggi, Crampsie’s lawyer, claims his client was under significant pressure from a much older individual who dominated the situation.
However, Sheriff Graeme Watson said that although the young woman had been naive and could be exploited, her actions were nevertheless risky.
“You knew your former partner had been involved in drugs, and he asked you to check in his luggage,” he added. “Your role was one of carrying the cannabis in your luggage, and I accept there was a power imbalance in the relationship.”
Although the sheriff acknowledged Crampsie’s lesser degree of culpability, he maintained that her conduct was sufficiently serious to warrant imprisonment.
