Thailand has emerged as the main source of cannabis being smuggled into the UK, according to a BBC investigation that found organised crime groups are exploiting the country’s relaxed cultivation laws to supply the British black market. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said four out of five cannabis seizures at UK airports now originate from Thailand, with traffickers making substantial profits despite many drug couriers being arrested. Get today's headlines by email The investigation found that cannabis grown in Thailand is being packaged and marketed as premium “Cali weed”, imitating high-potency strains associated with licensed dispensaries in California. British traffickers are reportedly using Thai-grown cannabis because production costs are significantly lower while the product can still be sold in the UK at premium prices. One British dealer, identified only as “Zee”, told the BBC he operates cannabis farms in Thailand using Vietnamese workers and smuggles the drug into Manchester, Liverpool and parts of Yorkshire. He claimed it costs him about GBP350 to produce one kilogram of cannabis, while UK buyers pay up to GBP3,500 per kilogram. According to Zee, couriers are recruited with promises of holidays, cash and entertainment before being asked to carry around 20kg of cannabis in each suitcase on return flights to Britain. He claimed that even if nine out of ten couriers are caught, the operation remains profitable. The NCA’s threat lead for border vulnerabilities, Paul Pantry, said such profit margins appeared realistic and described the organised crime groups behind the trade as “brazen and ruthless”. Home Office figures obtained by the BBC show Border Force officers seized more than 167,000kg of herbal cannabis during the past year, with an estimated street value exceeding GBP2 billion. The total represented a 52% increase from 2024 and included 28 tonnes carried by around 800 couriers arrested by the NCA. The investigation said traffickers are also using postal deliveries and commercial shipping to move cannabis into the UK after increased airport security made air smuggling more difficult. Cannabis is then repackaged into glossy branded packets bearing names such as Gelato, Cali Cookies and Runtz before being sold through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps. Thailand legalised cannabis in 2022, leading to rapid growth in cultivation and retail sales. Authorities later introduced measures restricting cannabis use to medical purposes and requiring prescriptions, while banning recreational use. However, the BBC reported that British criminal networks continue to exploit production in Thailand by operating outside the licensed system. Health experts have also expressed concern over the increasing strength of cannabis reaching UK consumers. Psychiatrist Dr Marta di Forti, who led the UK’s largest study on cannabis and psychosis, warned that products containing THC levels above 20%, and in some concentrates up to 90%, are linked to an increased risk of serious mental health problems, including psychosis. The BBC reported that the UK government described the BBC’s findings as concerning and said it was continuing to work closely with police forces and overseas partners to prevent illegal drugs reaching Britain. Pictures courtesy of BBC 9 July 2026
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