Manchester Crown Court witnessed a case where a 27 year old man was exposed as a drug mule caught with a staggering 30 kilogrammes of cannabis at Manchester Airport.

 

Mohammad Arif’s involvement in the smuggling saga began when a dispute emerged following a charity boxing event. In a bid to settle the feud, Arif embarked on a trip to Thailand in December last year. Little did he know, he would return with a suitcase packed not with souvenirs but with illegal cargo.

 

Customs officials intercepted Arif upon his return to Manchester, detaining him after discovering the hefty consignment of class B drugs in his possession. Despite being paid 2,000 British pounds (approximately 90,000 baht) for his role and having his expenses covered, the drug mule refused to reveal the identities of his accomplices.

Judge John Potter remarked that Arif’s financial gain from the crime was meagre. Arif had claimed he was handed the suitcase by others while in Thailand. Despite admitting to his involvement, the drug mule remained tight-lipped about further details.

Defending Arif, Hugh Barton disclosed that a charity boxing match had spiralled into online disputes, leading to Arif’s coerced involvement in the drug smuggling operation. Barton highlighted a disturbing incident where Arif was bullied and beaten in prison, captured on video and circulated online, reported Manchester Evening News.

 

Arif, residing on Waterloo Road, Cheetham Hill, pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing a Class B drug. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, with half of the term to be served behind bars.

 

In related news, Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Chinese man who attempted to smuggle 3,000 grammes of heroin into Australia. The drugs were concealed in books and powder bottles.

 

The Thai Narcotics Control Board Office (ONCB), stationed in China, reported the drug trafficking plan involving a suspicious Chinese man to the AITF. Further investigation revealed that the man intended to smuggle drugs from Thailand to Melbourne City in Australia via Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday, February 26.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Photo courtesy of Manchester Evening News

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-07

 

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

he would return with a suitcase packed

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

He'll serve 7 months in the nick? The Chinese guy trying to smuggle the heroin into Aus will serve a little bit longer 😁

Who in their right mind would think smuggling 30kg of cannabis in their suitcase would go unnoticed?!

56 minutes ago, Goat said:

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

 

30 kilos up his aris would likely been a tight fit and caused him to walk a bit strangely.

 

 

Village idiot should have got 7 years.Lucky he got caught in manchester and not thaialnd,Idiot.

Has hamster boy got it  in his cheeks?

From the mug shot, he's hiding a bit more..............😝

1 hour ago, Goat said:

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

30 Kg, that would be a bit painful?🙄

10 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

Village idiot should have got 7 years.Lucky he got caught in manchester and not thaialnd,Idiot.

I thought cannabis was legal in Thailand? Or did you  mean Singapore?

and another drug user gets caught ......

 

 

source:https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/briton-facing-life-in-thai-prison-was-arrested-days-after-his-wedding/ss-BB1jqfHu?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=d54459970c1b4a67a731fbc0071596c1&ei=44#image=7

 

Briton facing life in Thai prison was arrested days after his wedding ©ViralPress

Police reportedly swooped after launching an investigation following a tip-off from a concerned patron that the Brit was distributing drugs at the bar. They reportedly tracked Andrew's activities for five months before arresting him on his way to the establishment on February 29. Officers allegedly found 0.54 grams of ecstasy in a plastic bag, 25 ecstasy pills, and 75 LSD sheets, known locally as 'magic paper', among his belongings. Police allege Andrew left his apartment every day at 8pm to sell the drugs to customers at the bar which is a short walk from Sairee Beach where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death on the island in 2014. Dozens more unexplained deaths of tourists on the island later emerged, causing it to be given the chilling moniker Death Island.

2 hours ago, Goat said:

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

Usually they have you flagged... swarm in from all sides when you collect the suitcase and pass through the customs neck point.

 

Had happen to us in 2014.

Never flown direct to the UK since.

34 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Has hamster boy got it  in his cheeks?

Ha, ha, asks the rabbit.

 

2 hours ago, Goat said:

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

 

i have zero doubt you could fit 30 kgm up your kyber pass.

UK prisons are full, a non violent crime and if a 1st time offense i expect he will be out in less that 1/2 with a tag,

41 minutes ago, steven100 said:

and another drug user gets caught ......

 

 

source:https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/briton-facing-life-in-thai-prison-was-arrested-days-after-his-wedding/ss-BB1jqfHu?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=d54459970c1b4a67a731fbc0071596c1&ei=44#image=7

 

Briton facing life in Thai prison was arrested days after his wedding ©ViralPress

Police reportedly swooped after launching an investigation following a tip-off from a concerned patron that the Brit was distributing drugs at the bar. They reportedly tracked Andrew's activities for five months before arresting him on his way to the establishment on February 29. Officers allegedly found 0.54 grams of ecstasy in a plastic bag, 25 ecstasy pills, and 75 LSD sheets, known locally as 'magic paper', among his belongings. Police allege Andrew left his apartment every day at 8pm to sell the drugs to customers at the bar which is a short walk from Sairee Beach where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death on the island in 2014. Dozens more unexplained deaths of tourists on the island later emerged, causing it to be given the chilling moniker Death Island.

i expect he'll get a small sentence or huge fine. it's not that much he got caught with. if they were watching him for 5 months surely a bust at Christmas or NYE would have gained better results.

 

57 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

I thought cannabis was legal in Thailand? Or did you  mean Singapore?

Leagl for sure,but 30 kilos?  thast taking the pi.ss.

The UK is stuffed full of Arifs unfortunately a bit like his case 🤔

zero sympathy for any of these drug users, sellers, pushers.

Enjoy the prison....

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Judge John Potter remarked that Arif’s financial gain from the crime was meagre. Arif had claimed he was handed the suitcase by others while in Thailand. Despite admitting to his involvement, the drug mule remained tight-lipped about further details.

Enjoy your stay in a cell... hopefully for a log time.

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

zero sympathy for any of these drug users, sellers, pushers.

Enjoy the prison....

 

seller and pusher are the same thing.... but yes enjoy the prison sentence. 

16 minutes ago, steven100 said:

zero sympathy for any of these drug users, sellers, pushers.

Enjoy the prison....

Getting a little tired of your anti-drug rants Bugs.. The World has moved on.. witness this news story. 50 years ago ( when your opinions were formed) this fellow would have received a multi-year sentence. No longer. Saner heads have prevailed. More of a Customs offense in this case.

 

Just checked.. You joined here 4 months after me. Yet you have 20,000+ posts while I have 3000.. Just can't keep yourself to yourself I guess..

3 minutes ago, bobbin said:

Just checked.. You joined here 4 months after me. Yet you have 20,000+ posts while I have 3000

well you better get a move on if you wanna catch up

5 minutes ago, bobbin said:

Getting a little tired of your anti-drug rants Bugs.. The World has moved on.. witness this news story. 50 years ago ( when your opinions were formed) this fellow would have received a multi-year sentence. No longer. Saner heads have prevailed. More of a Customs offense in this case.

 

Just checked.. You joined here 4 months after me. Yet you have 20,000+ posts while I have 3000.. Just can't keep yourself to yourself I guess..

surely you don't feel for these druggies ....

2 hours ago, theshu25 said:

Village idiot should have got 7 years.Lucky he got caught in manchester and not thaialnd,Idiot.

 

   Its legal in Thailand 

4 hours ago, roo860 said:

He'll serve 7 months in the nick? The Chinese guy trying to smuggle the heroin into Aus will serve a little bit longer 😁

Don't the Chinese have the death penalty for drug smuggling?

4 hours ago, Goat said:

Amateur mistake.

He should have shoved up his Kyber Pass. 

 

I have had my suitcases checked many times at airports but never had the cavity search.

Boogie boards are no good either.

OH so 30kg of dope up yr kyber pass, very slack methinks

well used tunnel??

 

3 hours ago, thecyclist said:

Don't the Chinese have the death penalty for drug smuggling?

He was caught in Thailand wasn't he?

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

zero sympathy for any of these drug users, sellers, pushers.

Enjoy the prison....

He was a courier / smuggler   nowhere in the OP did it imply he used , sold, or pushed.  although if his suitcase was equipped with wheels he may  have been pushing, or maybe dragging , depending on his gait

26 minutes ago, roo860 said:

3 hours ago, thecyclist said:

Don't the Chinese have the death penalty for drug smuggling?

He was caught in Thailand wasn't he?

 

Doesn't Thailand have an extradition agreement with China?