Heavy penalties for cannabis smuggling

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is warning travellers coming to the UK from Thailand, Canada and the US that they could face a hefty prison sentence if they are caught attempting to smuggle cannabis into the country, following a sharp rise in arrests in this regard.

In 2024, 378 people have already been arrested in connection with cannabis smuggling by airline passengers. During this period, authorities are estimated to have seized 15 tonnes of cannabis at UK airports, around three times the amount seized in the whole of 2023, when 5 tonnes were seized and 136 arrests were made. This is a staggering increase on the 2 tonnes seized in 2022.

In 2023, more than half of the 136 arrests came from US airports, with 24 coming from Thailand and Canada. In 2024, around half of the 378 arrests were linked to cannabis originating from Thailand, with 75 linked to cannabis from Canada and 47 linked to cannabis from the US. Many couriers reported being misled by their recruiters, who falsely claimed they would only receive a fine if caught. However, the maximum penalty for importing cannabis into the UK is 14 years in prison. This year, 196 people have already been convicted, with sentences totalling almost 188 years.

Most passengers were caught with between 15 and 40kg of cannabis in their checked luggage. In one of the biggest cases, 51-year-old Spanish national Fernando Mayans Fuster was caught at Manchester Airport with eight suitcases containing 158kg of cannabis after arriving from Los Angeles in May. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 19 July.

On 9 August, 11 British passengers were arrested at Birmingham Airport after 510kg of cannabis was discovered in 28 suitcases. They had all travelled from Thailand, with a stopover at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. They have been bailed until 9 November, pending further investigation by the NCA, and their cases are believed to be linked.

In some cases, officers have found electronic trackers hidden with the drugs, likely planted by organised criminals to monitor shipments. NCA experts suggest this smuggling trend is being driven by organised criminal gangs with access to cannabis grown legally in other countries. These gangs are recruiting couriers to transport the drug into the UK, where it can generate higher profits than if grown domestically.

The NCA continues to work with law enforcement partners in the UK and internationally to target high-risk routes, intercept drug shipments and disrupt the criminal gangs involved, cutting off their profits. James Babbage, the NCA’s Director General of Threats, said: “While some couriers may not fully understand the potential penalties, many knowingly work for organised criminal gangs. We urge anyone approached to take part in smuggling to carefully consider the serious consequences and risks involved.”