Four jailed over Thailand-to-UK cannabis smuggling

Four members of an international drugs gang have been jailed after 460kg of cannabis was smuggled from Thailand into the UK in suitcases, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The group was among 11 people arrested at Birmingham Airport in August 2024 after Border Force officers found vacuum-packed cannabis hidden beneath clothes in 22 cases arriving from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Suitcases carried 460kg of cannabis

Each courier had two cases containing about 20kg or more of cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 460kg. The drugs had an NCA estimated street value of GBP13.8 million.

Investigators said the travellers had paid excess baggage charges at Bangkok airport because their suitcases were so heavy.

Border Force identified a link between seizures involving passengers arriving on connecting flights into Birmingham and fully staffed the airport's nothing-to-declare customs channel in response.

Eight of the suitcases contained Apple Air Tags, all linked to the same Apple ID account. One courier was instructed: "My man gonna be on the other side - don't leave the airport until you see him leave. Even if your bags are there just let them go round on the belt, go toilet etc. etc."

For foreigners travelling from Thailand, the case is a reminder that cannabis may not be taken into the UK, regardless of where it was obtained. UK border officers can search luggage, and carrying drugs for someone else can still result in prosecution and imprisonment.

Four sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court

Carsten Kyei, 21, from Newham, London, and Nathan Vitorino, 26, from Welwyn Garden City, were found guilty after a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Both were sentenced on Monday 21 September 2026, to two years and eight months in prison.

Lewis Ross, 35, from Bolton, Lancashire, changed his plea to guilty and received two years and eight months. Bradley Lloyd, 27, from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, also pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years.

All 11 defendants had been charged with attempting to carry, remove, deposit, harbour, keep, conceal and deal with Class B drugs with intent to evade prohibition on importing.

Paige Crisp, 24, of Malvern, Worcestershire; Tasia Nelson, 22, of Newquay, Cornwall; and Jaden Ramen, 23, of Merton, London, were convicted of the same charge in August.

Claire McCullough, 36, of Wythenshawe; Ryan Boachie, 32, of Edmonton, London; Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, 26, of Dagenham, London; and Jamal Clarke, 22, of Mile End, London, had pleaded guilty at earlier hearings. They are due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 October.

Warning to would-be couriers

NCA senior investigating officer Paul Boniface said the sentences showed couriers could pay "a high price" for smuggling cannabis into Britain.

"With the help of border force, we were able to intercept these drugs, deprive the criminal network behind the importation of considerable profits and protect the public from the damaging effects of cannabis," he said.

Adam Chatfield, head of Border Force Midlands Command, said the convictions should be a "stark warning" to anyone considering bringing cannabis into the UK, adding that those involved now had serious criminal records affecting their job prospects and life chances.

Pictures courtesy of NCA

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22 September 2026