Owner of Chanel the African Grey to stand trial over £792k drugs haul

Sandra Hannah has been charged alongside four others

In case you needed reminding, Sandra Hannah, from Cumberland Gate in Netherton, became a viral star in 2020 after sharing a video of her desperately crying and calling for her African Grey parrot Chanel.

But earlier this year, Merseyside police said they had charged her and Ian Hannah, 55, with the importation of cannabis and possession of criminal property.

The force said it followed a joint operation between the Sefton investigations team and the National Crime Agency, which led to the discovery of 237.6kg of cannabis resin imported from Spain, valued at approximately £792,000.

Pictures shared by the force on social media showed large tubs labelled as citronella used to disguise the substance, the Guardian reported.

On Wednesday (October 11), she appeared before the court on the charges, alongside Ian Hannah and Steven Garbutt.

All three pled not guilty on their first appearance in court earlier this year, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Two other defendants Shahbaaz Shahid and Aftkhar Shah also appeared before the court on Wednesday. They were charged with conspiracy to import class B drugs, and both pleaded not guilty.

A trial date for all five defendants was set for March 4, 2024 estimated to last around three weeks. A further hearing will also be held on November 9.

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