Arrest in Scotland over import of cannabis from Stansted

A man has been arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency on suspicion of organising an attempted import of cannabis worth £600,000 through Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old was arrested in Gourock, Inverclyde, at around 8am today (Wednesday 18 September) during an operation supported by officers from Police Scotland.

He has now been taken to Carlisle for questioning.

It follows the arrest of two women, aged 28 and 32, in Stansted on September 2 after border officials found around 60kg of drugs in two suitcases that had arrived on a flight from Bangkok.

After being questioned by the NCA, they were both charged with drug importation offences. They appeared before Chelmsford magistrates and were bailed to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 October.

David Phillips, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said:

“The NCA continues to work with partners such as Border Force to tackle those involved in drug trafficking – that includes both couriers and organisers.

“We would appeal to anyone who is approached to engage in any form of smuggling to think very carefully about the likely consequences of their actions and the potentially life-changing risks they are taking.”

In August, the National Crime Agency warned travellers to the UK from Thailand, Canada and the US that they could face prison sentences if they were caught bringing cannabis into the country, following a huge increase in arrests.

The amount of cannabis seized in 2024 is already more than three times as high as in the whole of 2023.

People who travelled as couriers with the drugs reported that their recruiters told them they would only face a fine if they were caught. However, the maximum penalty for importing cannabis into the UK is 14 years in prison.

September 18, 2024