The National Crime Agency says the risk of getting caught is high
The amount of cannabis seized from smugglers carrying the drug in suitcases to UK airports has tripled in less than a year, officials have revealed. So far in 2024 around 15 tonnes of the drug has been uncovered at airports, compared to five tonnes throughout the whole of 2023, and two tonnes in 2022.
Passengers are being stopped with massive amounts of cannabis in their luggage. Recent cases include 51-year-old Spanish national Fernando Mayans Fuster, who was stopped at Manchester Airport with eight suitcases containing 158 kilos of cannabis, after flying in from LA in May. Eleven passengers were arrested and bailed until November 9. This year around half of those arrested travelled from Thailand, 75 from Canada, and 47 from the US.
NCA director general of threats James Babbage said: “In some cases it is unclear whether the mules knew what the potential penalties are but in most cases they were operating on behalf of organised criminal gangs. And it is those couriers who are running the risk of a potentially life-changing prison sentence.
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