'Drugs in wigs' suspects detained

Two women from Derby have been arrested in Jamaica on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine with a street value of £170,000 under their wigs.

The pair, aged 17 and 20, were stopped as they tried to board a London-bound plane, an HM Revenue and Customs spokeswoman said.

The women, who are both unemployed, had been on holiday on the island for two weeks prior to their arrest.

They told officers they would be paid £4,000 to bring the drugs into the UK.

The HMRC spokeswoman said: "We anticipate the two will be charged with committing drug smuggling offences and appear in court in Jamaica tomorrow."

The pair were arrested as part of Operation Airbridge, a joint government initiative between the UK and Jamaica to catch drugs couriers before they can board planes leaving Jamaica.

Tony Walker, of the UK Border Agency and head of Operation Airbridge, said: "The dedication of the UK and Jamaican drugs detection officers has prevented deadly class A drugs from entering the UK."

The number detected at UK airports from Jamaica has fallen from about 1,000 a year to five in 2007, the HMRC said.