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23-year-old Californian Jamie Choi left Los Angeles on May 20th, 2025. She went to Lima, Peru, before heading to Asunción, Paraguay, the next day. On May 24th, she hopped on a flight to Heathrow Airport. She had a layover in São Paulo, Brazil, before finally landing in the UK.

Choi disembarked with a 17-pound wheel of Peruvian Parmesan in her bag that aroused the suspicions of Heathrow Airport’s UK Border Force Agents.

After taking her aside, she told them her friend suggested she purchase the cheese so they could try it.

Investigators searched the cheese wheel, and they found $1 million worth of crack cocaine that was 94% pure.

In her bag, they found a note she had written on May 21st, which appeared to be a script of what she could say in the event of questioning. It read, “I dropped out of [University of California, Santa Barbara] on Monday.

“Currently, I am in Paraguay in South America, solo travelling for the first time. It’s been amazing so far.”

Her case came to a quick resolution after she pleaded guilty to charges of importing Class A drugs.

In August, she was sentenced to 5 years and three months in prison.

The sentence brought different options to the forefront. Some thought the sentence was too lenient and would encourage others to try smuggling, knowing they’ll only get 5 years.

People who claim to know Choi believe she was likely manipulated into the crime and should have gotten less time for her actions.