Beautician faces 60 years in prison for smuggling cocaine worth £3.5 million

Family claims 28-year-old beautician Kim Hall was threatened and forced into smuggling after ‘free vacation’ offer turned deadly

Middlesbrough beautician Kim Hall, 28, faces up to 60 years in prison after allegedly smuggling £3.5 million worth of cocaine from Mexico. Hall was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport when authorities discovered 43 kg of cocaine in two suitcases.

Forced into crime?

Kim claims she was coerced by two men who initially offered her a free trip to Cancun. According to her family, these men threatened her and her family after she arrived and forced her to carry the suitcases, which she said contained $250,000 in cash.

Her father, John Hall, 59, insists Kim had no knowledge of the drugs and had only agreed to carry the suitcases out of fear.

“She’s not a drug smuggler,” he said. “She thought she had money on her. They threatened her family, so she did it.”

A case of naivete?

John explains that Kim first met the men during a trip to Portugal, where they claimed to be property developers. Then they offered her the trip to Mexico, but her family says she was caught in a dangerous trap.

“She had a good upbringing, has always worked hard and has never had any problems,” John added.

Kim is now charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. Due to the amount of drugs involved, she could be sentenced to 15 to 60 years behind bars, with her next court appearance set for November 13.

Her family are very concerned for her welfare as she has already spent £28,000 on legal fees. John says Kim is terrified and can’t talk without bursting into tears.

“She was forced to do this,” he said. “And I know that as her father.”