HM Revenue and Customs carried out the search on Sanchez and the two children when they arrived around noon on Tuesday's British Airlines flight from Mexico City.

Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs spokesman at Heathrow, said: "We never cease to be amazed at the lengths to which some people will go to hide drugs from us when they pass through our controls."

One of the children, a thirteen year old boy, was bailed for a month but is due to appear on April 10 at Heathrow Police Station. The 11 year old girl in this case was not charged. Social services has both children in their custody.

Sanchez is facing charges of smuggling a quantity of Class A drugs into England.