Man busted in UK smuggling cannabis from Thailand to clear debt

[webfact]

Photo courtesy of Greater Manchester Police via Liverpool Echo UK

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

A down-and-out drug mule took a gamble to clear his debt to his own mother – and lost big-time at Manchester Airport.

 

Dean Pharoah, who owed cash to his mum, tried to smuggle over £200,000 (approximately 8 million baht) worth of cannabis into the UK after a holiday in Thailand. But UK Border Force officers had their suspicions and swooped as he passed through the Nothing to Declare channel, putting an end to his high-stakes plan.

 

The 28 year old suspect arrived at Manchester Airport on August 28, after a nine-day break in Thailand with a Dubai layover, armed with two large suitcases and a smaller one. Prosecutor James Preece told Manchester Crown Court that when officers stopped him, he claimed he was merely holding the suitcases “for a friend” and didn’t know what was inside.

Even so, the drug mule struggled to explain why he didn’t know the combination to open the bags – an issue quickly solved when officers entered the universal code 000 to reveal 53.65 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at £214,600.

 

“It’s cannabis, isn’t it?” Pharoah admitted when officers opened the bags.

He confessed he had been offered £10,000 to bring the drugs back from Thailand, though he insisted he had no idea how large the haul would be. The cannabis courier also admitted he was a drug user and had unpaid debts to his mother but denied having any drug-related debts.

 

Photo courtesy of TimeOut

Pharoah, who had no fixed address, pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug. His defence lawyer, Shila Whitehead, argued that Pharoah had been cooperative, providing “a full and frank account” to the police and pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

 

In sentencing, Judge John Potter didn’t mince words.

 

“People like you, who take part in importing commercial quantities of cannabis like this, must and no doubt would expect on capture to be sent to prison.”

 

Pharoah was sentenced to 26 months behind bars – a harsh reminder of the risks in the world of drug smuggling, reported Liverpool Echo.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-11-24

 

 

[daveAustin]

Lucky he didn’t get nobbled in Dubai. 

[MalcolmB]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

reveal 53.65 kilogrammes

A lazy amateur effort.

 

The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method.

 

They often check your bags at airports but I have never experienced a cavity search.

[Robin]

"The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method."

With 53.6 Kgs?

[KannikaP]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

Photo courtesy of Greater Manchester Police via Liverpool Echo UK

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

A down-and-out drug mule took a gamble to clear his debt to his own mother – and lost big-time at Manchester Airport.

 

Dean Pharoah, who owed cash to his mum, tried to smuggle over £200,000 (approximately 8 million baht) worth of cannabis into the UK after a holiday in Thailand. But UK Border Force officers had their suspicions and swooped as he passed through the Nothing to Declare channel, putting an end to his high-stakes plan.

 

The 28 year old suspect arrived at Manchester Airport on August 28, after a nine-day break in Thailand with a Dubai layover, armed with two large suitcases and a smaller one. Prosecutor James Preece told Manchester Crown Court that when officers stopped him, he claimed he was merely holding the suitcases “for a friend” and didn’t know what was inside.

Even so, the drug mule struggled to explain why he didn’t know the combination to open the bags – an issue quickly solved when officers entered the universal code 000 to reveal 53.65 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at £214,600.

 

“It’s cannabis, isn’t it?” Pharoah admitted when officers opened the bags.

He confessed he had been offered £10,000 to bring the drugs back from Thailand, though he insisted he had no idea how large the haul would be. The cannabis courier also admitted he was a drug user and had unpaid debts to his mother but denied having any drug-related debts.

 

Photo courtesy of TimeOut

Pharoah, who had no fixed address, pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug. His defence lawyer, Shila Whitehead, argued that Pharoah had been cooperative, providing “a full and frank account” to the police and pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

 

In sentencing, Judge John Potter didn’t mince words.

 

“People like you, who take part in importing commercial quantities of cannabis like this, must and no doubt would expect on capture to be sent to prison.”

 

Pharoah was sentenced to 26 months behind bars – a harsh reminder of the risks in the world of drug smuggling, reported Liverpool Echo.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-11-24

 

 

Great to show a picture of Manchester DEPARTURES, when he would have been caught in ARRIVALS. 

[Denim]

8 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

A lazy amateur effort.

 

The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method.

 

They often check your bags at airports but I have never experienced a cavity search.

 

Something for you to look forward to then.

 

If you can squeeze 53 kilos of weed up your harris then once through customs get straight on to the Guiness book of records.

[watchcat]

51 minutes ago, webfact said:

A down-and-out drug mule took a gamble to clear his debt to his own mother

 

A good mother (not)

[ukrules]

Does it really cost £4,000 per KG in the UK?

[freedomnow]

10 hours ago, Robin said:

"The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method."

With 53.6 Kgs?

Just another big ass on AN forum.....going through the green channel.

 

Edited 12 hours ago by freedomnow

[still kicking]

12 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

A lazy amateur effort.

 

The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method.

 

They often check your bags at airports but I have never experienced a cavity search.

I have in OZ

[frank83628]

9 hours ago, ukrules said:

Does it really cost £4,000 per KG in the UK?

They always give maxmun street values, not sure on prices now but was always around £10 per g

[gk10012001]

the end of the article says he got a 26 month sentence.  By itself that is not the end of the world.  Of course the criminal record may follow him around for a long time and cause all sorts of employment, living problems etc.  But the risk reward seems ridiculous.  He was only going to get 10,000?  Goodness.  Even a low paying entry level job could earn him that.

[Funkymover]

lucky he was caught in uk,, he will be out in  6 months, as lord starmer will want the cell to lock up those speaking up against illegal immigrants

[BusyB]

'A nine-day holiday with two large cases' and hand luggage.

 

A criminal genius.

[EVENKEEL]

I thought the days of smuggling drugs with check in luggage were long gone.

[daveAustin]

Should have gone through the red ‘Declare’ lane and asked if it’s ok to bring a packet of Mama noodles in. Less suspicious. 

[jcmj]

How did Thailand miss it when he departed? Either they didn’t check properly or didn’t want to do anything and just notified the UK. Same with Dubai. Seems like they are getting lax as well. 

[Bundooman]

18 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

A lazy amateur effort.

 

The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method.

 

They often check your bags at airports but I have never experienced a cavity search.

Doesn't say much for your 'cavity' then ..............!

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

A down-and-out drug mule took a gamble to clear his debt to his own mother – and lost big-time at Manchester Airport

Good.

[Scouse123]

19 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

A lazy amateur effort.

 

The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method.

 

They often check your bags at airports but I have never experienced a cavity search.

 

 

Need a big ass for 53 kgs

[NaaKap]

Thick head with a master plan.

What an absolute tosser. 

[cowellandrew]

19 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Lucky he didn’t get nobbled in Dubai. 

He wouldn't have his checked in bags!

 

[mikeymike100]

20 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Lucky he didn’t get nobbled in Dubai. 

Absolutely, the sentence would have been a lot worse?

[riverhigh]

6 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

the end of the article says he got a 26 month sentence.  By itself that is not the end of the world.  Of course the criminal record may follow him around for a long time and cause all sorts of employment, living problems etc.  But the risk reward seems ridiculous.  He was only going to get 10,000?  Goodness.  Even a low paying entry level job could earn him that.

Agree. Even a low paying entry job could get him 10,000 p.a. I feel sorry for his parents. Do I think his intentions were to pay his mother back the money he owed, get off drugs and get job? No, my gut feel is that if he had been successful he would be doing whatever he was doing before. His mother wouldn't have seen a penny of the 10,000.

[CygnusX1]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Even so, the drug mule struggled to explain why he didn’t know the combination to open the bags – an issue quickly solved when officers entered the universal code 000

I must be missing something here - wouldn’t that make these locks worthless?

[wombat]

Whoever sold it to him had a beano after, that's for sure🤣🤣🤣

[wombat]

9 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

I must be missing something here - wouldn’t that make these locks worthless?

One would assume you are correct.

[BKKBike09]

21 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Even so, the drug mule struggled to explain why he didn’t know the combination to open the bags – an issue quickly solved when officers entered the universal code 000

I must be missing something here - wouldn’t that make these locks worthless?

 

Probably a TSA approved lock - combo with a small key lock for TSA or other agencies to use to unlock your case. 

 

In the pre-TSA days Customs used to have large bunches of suitcase keys to hand so was just a matter of finding one that fit. 

 

[Grumpy one]

21 hours ago, Robin said:

"The only way to import drugs successfully is the suppository method."

With 53.6 Kgs?

Ouch   

[lordgrinz]

26 months (if he does all of it) for 53kgs of drugs is a slap on the wrist, no wonder he took the chance.