A man from Leeds has been charged with trying to smuggle £1 million worth of cannabis from Thailand through Heathrow Airport.
OG Article: here
View our Fair Use Policy: here
Nathaniel Benson, 45, was arrested after flying in from Bangkok on Wednesday. Border Force officers found 160 packages of cannabis in his suitcases, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Benson appeared in Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, where he was charged with importing class B drugs. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Isleworth Crown Court on October 24. A 41-year-old woman from Harrogate was also arrested in connection with the case but has since been released on bail.
The NCA reported that over 100 kilos of cannabis were recovered, which could have fetched around £1 million if sold on the streets in the UK.
This arrest comes amid a surge in cannabis smuggling cases. In August, the NCA issued a warning to travelers coming into the UK from countries like Thailand, Canada, and the United States, cautioning that they could face prison time if caught trying to bring cannabis into the country. The agency noted that the amount of cannabis seized in 2024 has already tripled compared to the total seized in all of 2023.
Comments