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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Joe Middleton

TikTok star who bragged of jet-setting lifestyle jailed in Peru for drug smuggling

boywholives/instagram

A TikTok star who paraded his jet-setting lifestyle on social media has been jailed in Peru for almost seven years after being caught with nearly three kilograms of cocaine in his suitcase.

Modou Adams, 25, would post candid pictures on his Instagram called ‘boywholives’, showing his glamorous life as he spent time in Los Angeles, Athens and multiple trips to Peru, including a visit to Machu Pichu.

However, all is not what it seemed as Adams ostensibly high-flying model lifestyle disguised his sideline as a drugs mule and he will now be spending the remainder of his 20s and early 30s in a prison cell.

According to a statement published by Peru’s Supreme Court, he has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for trying to smuggle 2.89 kilograms of cocaine to London.

In the press release he was referred to by his full name of Modou Dodou Adams (25) and his job was described as a “TikToker”.

He previously used the video sharing app to post videos of his travels, but account now appears to have been deleted.

Modou Adams job was described as a “TikToker” in court
— (boywholives/instagram)

Adams was arrested Jorge Chávez international airport, located north of the country’s capital Lima, on September 30. Police searched his luggage and found a package in the back of his suitcase inside a metal pouch.

Footage of the moment Adams luggage was searched was released by police and shows an officer cutting into the false back of the bag.

Adams seems baffled by the ordeal as the officer holds up the implement which appears to be covered in a white powder, later identified as cocaine. The officer then removes the false backing to the suitcase to reveal the drugs.

The influencer was heading to Paris, France, with his eventual destination London, England, according to the statement from the Supreme Court.

The 25-year-old was dealt with swiftly by the Peruvian justice system and had his case resolved in less than 24 hours.

Adams appeared in court with an interpreter so he could understand the proceedings at the court hearing and admitted he was responsible for the crime.

British model Modou Adams has been jailed in Peru for almost seven years
— (boywholives/Instagram)

As well as the jail sentence Adams will have to pay a fine of £1,281.00 (6,500 soles). He was handed his sentence by Judge Renee Quispe Silva for “illicit trafficking in toxic drugs, to the detriment of the Peruvian state”.

Adams last post on his Instagram account shows him posing at Machu Pichu on 26 September, four days prior to his arrest.

The last high-profile arrests of British cititzens for drug smuggling came in August 2013 when Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid were trying to smuggle £1.5million of cocaine in their luggage from Peru to Spain.

The duo were sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, the same stretch that Adams will have to serve.

Both McCollum and Reid of them were granted early release by the Peruvian authorities and allowed to serve the rest of their sentences on parole in the UK.

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