Cocaine packages burst in stomach, man dies

Four people have been charged following the finding of a deceased 20-year-old man in his hotel room while on an overseas trip.

These four people face charges related to drug offenses after the man died from ingesting packages of cocaine prior to boarding a flight.

Jensen Westhead, aged 20, passed away in Dubai on December 4, 2024, the day after departing from Manchester Airport.

Reports indicate that Mr. Westhead ingested "a number of packages of cocaine" at a hotel in Manchester on December 2.

He was found deceased at Hotel Avalon in Dubai after at least one of the packages leaked within his body, leading to an overdose.

Rebecca Hacth, 43, Glenn Hatch, 50; Alexander Tofton, 32; and Steven Stephenson, 36, have been charged with conspiracy to fraudulently circumvent the prohibition on the exportation of a class A drug.

Additionally, Mr. Stephenson faces charges related to his involvement in the supply of cocaine.

Investigators suspect that Mr. Westhead may have been functioning as a "body packer"—an individual who smuggles drugs internally by swallowing sealed packets to evade detection.

Local law enforcement stated, "On December 2, 2024, Jensen Westhead ingested a number of packages of cocaine at a hotel in Manchester before boarding a flight from Manchester Airport, arriving in Dubai on December 3, 2024.

"At least one of the cocaine packages ruptured in his stomach, causing in an overdose."