TEENAGER HELD OVER HEROIN HAUL

A 13-year-old girl has been charged with smuggling heroin valued at
almost UKP 1m through Manchester Airport.

The teenager was arrested after stepping off a flight from Pakistan.
Customs officers recovered 13 kilograms of heroin, with a street
value of UKP 910,000. Matthew King, a Customs and Excise spokesman,
said: "She appears to have been travelling alone."

British national The girl, who has not been named, is accused of
illegally importing a controlled drug and bailed into the care of
social services in West Yorkshire, where she said she had relatives.

She will appear before magistrates in Manchester on Thursday. Alison
O'Sullivan, acting director of Bradford Council's social services
department, said: "We can confirm that a 13-year-old girl has been
taken into the care of Bradford Council social services."

The flight on which the girl was travelling touched down at
Manchester Airport at 1600 BST on Monday.

It had come from the Pakistan capital Islamabad. It is understood the
drugs were found in the compartment of a suitcase. Mr King said: "I
can confirm she is a British national. "She was charged by the
airport police"