British woman admits Thai cannabis smuggling into Heathrow

Amy Jayne Durban, 45, has admitted smuggling 51.2kg of cannabis, valued at GBP512,000 on the street, into Britain after flying from Bangkok to Heathrow Airport.

Border Force officers arrested Durban, from Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon, on 6 July after finding the Class B drug packed into two suitcases. She was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday 6 August and is due to be sentenced on 14 October.

In a Facebook post days before her arrest, Durban wrote: "On her way home to cut the grass if you know what I mean. No ETA so you won't know I'm about to hit your lawn."

Court hears of alleged courier role

The National Crime Agency (NCA) had been investigating Durban at the time of her arrest. Prosecutor James O'Connell told the court she had also travelled to Thailand in May, although there was currently no evidence that she smuggled drugs on that trip.

Her phone has been sent for forensic downloading and examination, but remains in a queue, the court heard. Durban was living with her partner at a remote address in Hemyock at the time; the couple own vape stores and her partner attended the hearing.

Mr O'Connell opposed bail, citing a risk of further offending. He said Durban's brother had been arrested by a West Country police force in connection with cannabis possession after a warrant was executed at his home.

Defence lawyer Alexander Shanks said Durban would submit a basis of plea arguing she had been pressured and coerced into taking part, and was naive and immature. The prosecution said it would not accept that account without evidence of coercion.

Mr O'Connell said Durban was "definitely a courier" who had been motivated by significant financial reward and hospitality. The court heard she had one previous conviction, for battery in 2000, when she received an 18-month probation order.

Judge Karen Holt rejected bail despite Mr Shanks saying Durban was struggling with significant mental health problems at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. The judge said the quantity involved made this "an extremely serious case", with a possible starting point of four years in prison.

Warning for Thailand-based travellers

The case is a reminder for foreigners in Thailand, including visitors and residents returning to Britain, that cannabis may be widely visible in Thailand but taking it across an international border remains a serious criminal offence.

The NCA says organised crime groups approach potential drug couriers through social media, offering a free holiday and spending money in return for carrying cannabis to the UK.

It reported 142 cannabis smugglers were caught arriving by plane in 2023, rising to 801 in 2024 - a 464 per cent increase - and 976 in 2025. A further 600 alleged mules were arrested at UK airports in the first six months of this year, putting 2026 on course to be worse.

Following a new NCA crackdown with Thai authorities, suspected smugglers caught in Thailand can face fines equivalent to GBP680 per kilogram. The NCA said an average mule is caught with 26kg, potentially attracting a fine, or a two-year Thai prison sentence if it is not paid.

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mall

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8 August 2026