News:2026-07-11/Trafficking/irish-pair-jailed-after-arriving-on-réunion-from-bangkok-with-38-kg-of-cannabis-in-their-suitcases

News record11 July 2026Trafficking

Irish pair jailed after arriving on Réunion from Bangkok with 38 kg of cannabis in their suitcases

Customs officials at Roland Garros Airport on Réunion arrested an Irish man aged 48 and an Irish woman aged 27 on 11 July 2026 after finding a 19 kg package of cannabis in each of their suitcases on arrival from Bangkok, 38 kg in total with an estimated value of €760,000. Cork Beo reported that the suitcases contained no clothes, that the pair had been promised €50,000 each and that the man said he had been recruited in Dublin before asking the woman, a friend of his son, to take part. Both admitted guilt before the court in Saint-Denis within days of the arrest. Each received a two-year prison sentence with a lifetime ban on returning to Réunion. The outlet counted almost 30 large cannabis seizures at the island's main airport this year and described Réunion as a smuggling route from Thailand towards Africa. Reported by Cork Beo on 23 July 2026, citing local reports.

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More news from France

• 10 Sep 2026Customs seize 140 kg of Thai cannabis from air freight in transit at Roland Garros Airport
• 26 Jul 2026Gendarmes seize about 156 kg of zamal bound for Mauritius at Bras-Panon

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Date11 Jul 2026

CategoryTrafficking

CountryFrance

State / provinceRéunion

LocalityRoland Garros Airport

Coordinates-20.89, 55.52

Coordinates are approximate.

Source report

2026-07-11 Trafficking Irish pair jailed after arriving on Réunion from Bangkok with 38 kg of cannabis in their suitcases Customs officials at Roland Garros Airport on Réunion arrested an Irish man aged 48 and an Irish woman aged 27 on 11 July 2026 after finding a 19 kg package of cannabis in each of their suitcases on arrival from Bangkok, 38 kg in total with an estimated value of €760,000. Cork Beo reported that the suitcases contained no clothes, that the pair had been promised €50,000 each and that the man said he had been recruited in Dublin before asking the woman, a friend of his son, to take part. Both admitted guilt before the court in Saint-Denis within days of the arrest. Each received a two-year prison sentence with a lifetime ban on returning to Réunion. The outlet counted almost 30 large cannabis seizures at the island's main airport this year and described Réunion as a smuggling route from Thailand towards Africa. Reported by Cork Beo on 23 July 2026, citing local reports. https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/irish-duo-facing-years-jail-34340372 France Réunion Roland Garros Airport 20° 53' 24.00" S, 55° 31' 12.00" E https://i2-prod.corkbeo.ie/article34340371.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/68751330 2011068158997603 5347469501698932736 n.jpg