British Woman Caught with Cocaine at O’Hare Airport Claims Innocence
A British woman found with over 90 pounds of cocaine in her luggage at O’Hare International Airport has denied being a drug smuggler, with her father claiming she was tricked into carrying the illegal substance.
John Hall, the father of 28-year-old Kim Hall, stated that his daughter was offered a free vacation to Cancun by two men she met in Portugal. They packed two suitcases for her, claiming they contained $250,000 each in cash. However, unbeknownst to Kim, the suitcases actually held around $4.5 million worth of cocaine.
Authorities apprehended Kim Hall in August as she was attempting to board a connecting flight to Manchester, England. Despite the circumstances, her father insists that she is not a criminal but rather a victim of deception.
According to court records, Kim Hall, a former beautician, was persuaded by the men who identified themselves as Mexican real estate developers. They allegedly convinced her to transport the suitcases back to England in exchange for the all-expenses-paid trip to Cancun.
John Hall expressed his disbelief, stating, “She’s never been into trouble—nothing at all. She’s had a good upbringing and has always worked for her money. The only thing she’s guilty of is being stupid and being naive.”
Despite a prosecutor’s request to detain her, Judge William Fahy allowed Kim Hall to be released on electronic monitoring, provided she surrender her passport. However, as she would not be able to return home without it, she remains in Cook County jail.
A grand jury has charged Kim Hall with trafficking a controlled substance and the manufacture-delivery of cocaine.
