Woman who filmed hunt for missing parrot Chanel is charged with importing 237kg of cannabis

A woman who went viral after filming a desperate hunt for her missing African Grey parrot called Chanel has been charged with importing 237kg of cannabis from Spain.

Sandra Hannah, 43, rose to internet stardom in 2020 after recording herself parading the streets in Netherton, Liverpool, as she cried out for her parrot – named Chanel because her dog is called Coco, she later revealed.

Hannah even appeared on ITV’s This Morning to tell her story – where she revealed she was reunited with her then two-year-old parrot who had escaped just over two miles down the road.

However, three years on from being an internet sensation, Merseyside Police have charged both her and Ian Hannah, 55, on suspicion of the importation of 237kg of cannabis – worth £792,000 – from Spain.

 The video Sandra posted went viral and helped find her missing pet. But three years on, she has been charged with importing 237kg of cannabis from Spain

The pair have also been charged with the possession of criminal property.

The charges brought against them come amid a joint operation between Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: ‘Over the past two days there has been a joint operation between Operation Pelican, Sefton Investigations Team and the National Crime Agency which has resulted in two adults being charged with the importation of 237.6kg of cannabis resin from Spain. 

‘This has been valued at approximately £792,000.

‘Ian Hannah, 55, and Sandra Hannah, 43, of Cumberland Gate, Netherton, have both been charged with importation of cannabis and possession of criminal property. Hannah and Hannah have been remanded and will appear before the magistrates’ court this morning.’

Although Hannah fast became a popular figure among social media users, she received a significant amount of backlash during a second appearance on This Morning.

After revealing that she had successfully tracked down her parrot, she declared her plans to get Chanel’s wings clipped in order to stop her escaping in the future.

Her remarks were met with a chorus of complaints, with some labelling it ‘barbaric’, ‘absolutely shocking’ and ‘cruel’.

The charges brought against her and Ian Hannah, 53, come amid a joint operation between Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency. Pictured: Hannah appeared on This Morning in July 2021 to reveal her African grey parrot had been rescued

‘She’s getting her wings clipped,’ said Hannah in July 2021. ‘She won’t be able to fly at all, it’s her own fault, it’s for her safety and my own health.’

Host Ruth Langsford then asked: ‘And that’s safe is it?’

Hannah replied: ‘Yea, they grow back so I’ll probably have to do it again, but yeah.’

Viewers were outraged, with one writing: ‘Absolutely shocking getting the poor birds wings clipped so she won’t be to fly! Don’t have a parrot as a pet if you can’t look after it properly!!!’

Another said: ‘Nah. I hope the RSPCA is watching this, clipping that poor parrot’s wings because you can’t look after it. That’s just cruel. We know if my dog gets out he will RUN and I’ll probably never see him again. So we know to keep doors SHUT?!!!’

‘So the irresponsible moron who can’t close a f****** door is going to mutilate that poor parrot – shameful,’ agreed a third at the time.