A 24-year-old woman has been fined $1,800 after refusing to comply with customs officers at the airport.

Shellicia McKenzie-Simons, of Pembroke, pleaded guilty to obstruction at Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Victoria Greening told the court that charges of assaulting a police officer and escaping lawful custody would not be pursued.

Ms McKenzie-Simons admitted obstructing Customs officers on May 9 after she landed at LF Wade International Airport on a Delta flight from the US.

“On arrival she was selected for inspection but was uncooperative and attempted to leave,” Ms Greening told the court. “A personal search was requested. She refused to comply and police officers were summoned. She still refused to comply and was subsequently arrested.”

Ms Greening said Ms McKenzie-Simons, who is unemployed, tried to get away from officers after asking to use the bathroom.

She then underwent a personal search but nothing was found.

Defence lawyer Philip Perinchief said his client had not been trying to flee officers but was trying to get the attention of a friend who was at the airport to collect her.

He told the court she had asked why she had to be strip-searched but did not get a response.

“She ran over to his car to see if he would interact with officers on her behalf,” he said. “She felt threatened.”

Mr Perinchief said “this matter could have been handled more sensitively and professionally”.

Ms McKenzie-Simons said she had been “very compliant” and that her “obstruction came in when I refused to strip”.

“I was willing to take off everything except my underwear,” she said. “They gave me no explanation as to why I was subjected to a strip-search. They had no basis for forcing me to perform a strip-search — it was a violation of my body.

“They were ganging up on me and telling me I had no rights.”

Ms Greening told Acting Magistrate Ed Bailey that the defendant was “uncooperative even before any suggestion of this personal search”.

Mr Bailey issued a fine of $1,800 and said he had taken into account her guilty plea and the fact this was her first offence.