Olga Bednarska, a 27-year-old former participant on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle, was arrested at Manchester Airport while trying to smuggle cannabis valued at £157,600 into the UK. Customs agents found 40kg of the substance concealed in two large suitcases that Bednarska had brought from Thailand. The influencer asserted that she had been tricked by a person known as “Tex,” who covered the expenses of her trip and requested her to carry designer clothing and watches from Phuket. Although she initially denied having complete knowledge of the suitcase contents, Bednarska eventually confessed to being part of the illicit avoidance of drug importation regulations. The court was informed that Bednarska had racked up £16,000 in debt from overspending. Eager to resolve her financial issues, she accepted an offer to smuggle items in exchange for an expected £18,000. During her October trip, she met with Tex’s associate, purchased the suitcases, and filled them with other items to conceal the cannabis. However, upon her return to the UK, she was intercepted by Border Force agents. She claimed to have packed the bags herself but could not unlock them, which raised suspicions. Concealed underneath the clothing were several vacuum-sealed parcels of cannabis weighing close to 40kg. Judge John Potter admonished Bednarska for trusting an acquaintance and engaging in illegal activities, emphasizing the severe effects of drug trafficking on communities. “You have played a direct role in this by agreeing to your actions,” he remarked. Even though the crime carried a possible prison sentence, Bednarska received a 20-month suspended sentence, allowing her to evade immediate jail time. Bednarska, who has been in custody since her arrest in October, cried during the sentencing. The judge acknowledged her financial difficulties but cautioned her against any future unlawful activities, giving her two years to show improvement under the conditions of her suspended sentence. This situation serves as a poignant reminder of the ramifications of turning to crime to sustain a lavish lifestyle.