News:2026-09-21/Trafficking/four-couriers-sentenced-over-an-attempt-to-import-cannabis-from-thailand-through-birmingham-airport

News record21 September 2026Trafficking

Four couriers sentenced over an attempt to import cannabis from Thailand through Birmingham Airport

The National Crime Agency reported that four men were sentenced on 21 September 2026 over an attempt to import cannabis through Birmingham Airport in August 2024. According to the agency the couriers arrived on the same flights from Thailand by way of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, each carrying two suitcases packed with 20 kilograms of cannabis under a thin layer of clothing, and had paid an excess baggage charge at Bangkok airport because the cases were so heavy. The agency put the total at 460 kilograms across 22 suitcases, and said eight of the cases held Apple AirTags linked to a single account. Border Force officers made the arrests and recovered the cannabis and the National Crime Agency investigated, with eleven further defendants due to be sentenced on 22 October 2026.

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More news from United Kingdom

• 6 Aug 2026Devon woman pleads guilty to importing 51.2 kg of cannabis seized at Heathrow
• 5 Aug 2026Warrington woman given community order after importing 35.3 kg of cannabis from Thailand

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Date21 Sep 2026

CategoryTrafficking

CountryUnited Kingdom

State / provinceWest Midlands

LocalityBirmingham Airport

AgencyNational Crime Agency

Coordinates52.45, -1.75

Coordinates are approximate.

Source report

2026-09-21 Trafficking Four couriers sentenced over an attempt to import cannabis from Thailand through Birmingham Airport The National Crime Agency reported that four men were sentenced on 21 September 2026 over an attempt to import cannabis through Birmingham Airport in August 2024. According to the agency the couriers arrived on the same flights from Thailand by way of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, each carrying two suitcases packed with 20 kilograms of cannabis under a thin layer of clothing, and had paid an excess baggage charge at Bangkok airport because the cases were so heavy. The agency put the total at 460 kilograms across 22 suitcases, and said eight of the cases held Apple AirTags linked to a single account. Border Force officers made the arrests and recovered the cannabis and the National Crime Agency investigated, with eleven further defendants due to be sentenced on 22 October 2026. https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/couriers-sentenced-over-13-8-million-cannabis-importation-attempt United Kingdom West Midlands Birmingham Airport 52° 27' 0.00" N, 1° 45' 0.00" W National Crime Agency