Mother and Son Duo Nabbed Smuggling £294k of Cocaine
A mother and son from Darwen have been locked up after plotting to smuggle a staggering 14kg of cocaine into the UK from the Dominican Republic. The National Crime Agency (NCA) busted their sinister scheme at Manchester Airport in April 2025.
Border Force Sniffs Out Massive Cocaine Haul
Amanda Meadowcroft, 53, was stopped by Border Force officers as she returned to the UK. Already serving a suspended sentence for previous drug smuggling, she was found with 14 packets of cocaine worth around £294,000. Amanda was arrested alongside another woman who was later released without charge.
Two mobile phones seized from Amanda revealed chilling texts between her and her son, Bradley Couzins, 34. Bradley masterminded the entire operation from Lancashire, organising flights and drug handovers.
Son’s Sinister Offer: Economy Class or First?
Text messages showed Bradley gave his mum a choice: a budget economy flight to the Dominican Republic or a posh first-class trip to Thailand. Following Amanda’s arrest, Bradley went on the run but was caught by NCA officers in Blackpool in August 2025.
During his arrest, Bradley smashed his phone with handcuffs and assaulted an NCA officer. That violent outburst landed him an extra assault charge.
Teaming Up Behind Bars: Jail Terms for Mother and Son
Both pleaded guilty to importing cocaine at Manchester Crown Court in September 2025. Amanda received seven years, while her son Bradley was handed seven years and six months behind bars.
“This criminal family went to great lengths to source and smuggle class A drugs into the UK,” said an NCA spokesperson. “Their greed led to a violent assault on a dedicated officer, who thankfully has made a full recovery.”
“Working with Border Force and Lancashire Police, we will continue to smash drug supply chains and bring criminals to justice.”
