Crime Ex-Asda Manager Imprisoned Over Drug Smuggling Plot from Thailand

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Greater Manchester Police

 

A former supermarket manager has been handed a 20-month prison term after admitting to trying to bring over 31 kilograms of cannabis to the UK from Thailand.

 

Louisa De Marco, aged 53, was intercepted by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport on 8 May. Two suitcases traced to her were found to contain a total of 31.25 kilograms of cannabis, concealed within what she initially claimed were tobacco-filled bags. 

 

De Marco, from Broadway, Bradford, had previously earned £40,000 (1.75 million baht) a year working for the supermarket chain Asda, having lost her job during the pandemic and been in a precarious financial state ever since. She was charged with breaching customs laws and importing a Class B drug (cannabis) and subsequently pleaded guilty at a court appearance this week.

 

The court was told that the smuggling operation had been organised while De Marco was visiting Thailand. She was promised £10,000 (440,000 baht) for her role and was supplied with flights for both herself and a companion. However, she received no payment.

 

De Marco alleged she had been coerced into the crime and threatened by those involved, who warned that she would be stranded overseas if she attempted to abandon the plan. She also refused to unlock her mobile phone or give her phone’s PIN to police, citing fears of reprisal and intimidation.

 

Her solicitor, Bradley Mather, told the court she had faced mounting debts, was on benefits, and suffered from several health issues. He argued that her decision was made under duress and economic pressure and noted the likely repercussions for her family, particularly her daughter’s living arrangements.

 

File photo for reference only
 

But Judge Sarah Griffin rejected the claim that De Marco had been duped or forced into the crime, stating she was “fully aware” of what she was doing. “You chose to participate in a significant drug importation scheme,” the judge said. “You made that decision knowingly, despite the clear risks and consequences. You knew exactly what you were involving yourself in.”

 

De Marco is to serve half of her sentence in custody, with the remainder to be served under license. Upon her release, she will be monitored by authorities.

 

The case has once again brought to light how financially vulnerable Britons are being drawn into international drug smuggling networks, often lured by offers of easy money but facing harsh penalties when caught.

 

Cases like this continue to raise concerns about the exploitation of individuals in difficult financial situations by well-organised trafficking syndicates operating across borders.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-06

 

 

 

[Sir Dude]

Another numpty.

[simon43]

Interesting eye colour...

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

31.25 kilograms of cannabis, concealed within what she initially claimed were tobacco-filled bags

 

Even 31 kgs of tobacco would draw attention to her.

 

Do people regularly get away with this, and we just know when they are caught?  It just seems so daft.

[VincentRJ]

Don't you want to give her a big kiss? 

[lamyai3]

How are these people being recruited? 

[save the frogs]

tweeter and the monkey man were hard up for cash

they stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash

 

 

[Captain Flack]

Troll post removed.

 

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[Geoffggi]

For this amount she got off lightly

[Jim Blue]

43 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

For this amount she got off lightly

 

43 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

For this amount she got off lightly

With time off it will be ......hardly any time served  at all.

[sammieuk1]

She sure looks a tad green to me🤔

[henryford1958]

Good thing Thailand criminalized weed again. Too tempting for dumbos like her to try to smuggle into the UK.

[NE1]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The case has once again brought to light how financially vulnerable Britons are being drawn into international drug smuggling networks, often lured by offers of easy money but facing harsh penalties when caught.

 

Harsh penalties.

I would say that 10 months inside and 10 months on probation is hardly harsh for 31kgs.

[mikeymike100]

The police never seem to be able to get the organizers?

" She also refused to unlock her mobile phone or give her phone’s PIN to police, citing fears of reprisal and intimidation."

Sounds like the 'mob'...??

 

[jaywalker-2]

15 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Another numpty.

Honest Guv'nor! I never noticed the extra 68 bleeding pounds of weight! Some bloke must've snuck it in there!

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

suffered from several health issues

One is mental health, the other one is acquired: stupidity.

[wombat]

What's a pound of weed worth in UK?

 

[twizzian]

They never learn from probable consequences & what’s happened to most other drug mules.

[black tabby12345]

A lucky crook,  for not being Vice-Versa..

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A former supermarket manager has been handed a 20-month prison term after admitting to trying to bring over 31 kilograms of cannabis to the UK from Thailand.

How stupid can people be ?

[Thumbs]

20 month sentence, halved for good behaviour... no wonder these idiots are trying there luck almost worth trying your luck for a lenient sentence like that

[ryandb]

16 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

20 month sentence, halved for good behaviour... no wonder these idiots are trying there luck almost worth trying your luck for a lenient sentence like that

 

Just don't fly into an Eastern European or Asian airport on the way

[UKJASE]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

What's a pound of weed worth in UK?

 

 

 

i think an ounce is about 200 pounds / quid for wholesale.  a massive mark up compared to low prices here

[renaissanc]

Manchester Airport has drug-sniffing dogs in the baggage arrival area. There are videos on YouTube about the dogs there.

[NemoH]

I suspect that in the early days of Thailand liberalizing Cannabis, there were alot of smuggling. But as the years go by, with organized Crime, the smuggling becomes more prevalent and hence the increased monitoring and vigilance. So, any Smuggler better think twice... like cannon to the fodder. Low life criminals straight to jail. Smuggling will all stop with death penalty, especially in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.

[Emdog]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

How stupid can people be ?

Don't ask that question in Thailand. It's considered a challenge....

Police couldn't unlock phone? Take to yr local Thai phone shop, take care of you in a jiffy.

[Look Chang]

I was really surprised when Thailand legalized cannabis. Are there other tourist countries in the world that have made a similar controversial decision?

[Peterphuket]

I don't understand why she made it so difficult after all, from Holland it is much closer, and you are bombarded with that, there is in abundance.

[StevieAus]

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

Don't ask that question in Thailand. It's considered a challenge....

Police couldn't unlock phone? Take to yr local Thai phone shop, take care of you in a jiffy.

She was arrested in the UK not Thailand, it doesn’t state the police couldn’t unlock the phone but that she refused to unlock the phone or provide  the pin.

[madone]

i just dont get it.

low returns, high risk. You would have to be a moron to smuggle weed with so many higher profit alternatives out there