AN aspiring nurse who distributed packages of cannabis across Wales and England has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Swansea Crown Court heard that Lakeisha Doel, described as “naïve,” had accepted deliveries of the drug and played a role in a wider supply operation.
When police searched her home, they uncovered £10,500 in cash hidden in a shoebox, along with kilo packages of cannabis labelled with false names. The court was told that Doel had been in contact with a man currently in America, who is now being sought by US immigration authorities.
Police investigation and arrest
Prosecutor Tom Scapens outlined how South Wales Police began investigating the case in May last year after receiving intelligence about a vehicle making multiple trips between Swansea and Birmingham, suspected of involvement in drug supply. On 14 May, officers stopped the car at the Ynysforgan junction of the M4 as it returned from the West Midlands. Doel, the sole occupant, was found with Post Office paying-in slips, £200 in cash, and a bag containing 2.5g of cannabis.
A subsequent search of Doel’s home led to the discovery of £10,500 in cash, a large ornamental sword, a bottle of nitrous oxide, and nearly five kilos of cannabis, with a total estimated value of up to £36,000. Messages on her phone revealed discussions with a named individual about cannabis deliveries, including postcodes and transactions worth tens of thousands of pounds. The prosecution argued that Doel’s actions on the ground facilitated the remote operation of the drug supply business.
Defendant’s explanation and court proceedings
During her police interview, the 21-year-old denied involvement in drug supply. She claimed she had been asked by a man overseas to accept parcels and hold them until a second person collected them, without knowing their contents. She initially explained her trips to Birmingham as visits to a man she was dating and her London visits as social outings. However, in a second interview, she admitted to delivering parcels across south Wales and England.
Doel, of Glyncollen Crescent, Ynysforgan, Swansea Valley, had no previous convictions. She pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of criminal property (£10,700 in cash), and the simple possession of cannabis.
Defence barrister Alycia Carpanini argued that Doel’s involvement was driven by naivety and personal struggles at the time. She stated that her client had placed trust in the wrong person and that her hopes of pursuing a nursing career were now shattered.
Sentencing and further investigations
Recorder Paul Lewis acknowledged his duty to impose a custodial sentence but, after considering all the evidence, decided against immediate imprisonment. He sentenced Doel to 27 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered her to complete a rehabilitation programme and a mental health treatment requirement.
The court also heard that police had traced the named individual in Doel’s phone to addresses in Treboeth, Swansea, and Essex. His mother confirmed he had been travelling in the US. Checks revealed that he had entered America in February 2024 but had overstayed his visa and was now being sought by US authorities. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Aspiring nurse caught delivering cannabis across Wales and England
