Newquay woman among those awaiting sentencing in cannabis smuggling plot
Sentencing continues for group involved in Birmingham Airport drug smuggling case
A Newquay woman is among those due to be sentenced for involvement in a plot to smuggle £13.8 million worth of cannabis into the UK through Birmingham Airport.
Tasia Nelson, 22, from Newquay, Cornwall, along with several others, is scheduled for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on 22nd October.
The National Crime Agency led the investigation that resulted in the arrest of gang members at Birmingham Airport in August 2024.
Border Force officers discovered the class B drugs concealed in 22 suitcases, flown in from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Previously sentenced gang members include Carsten Kyei, Bradley Lloyd, Lewis Ross, and Nathan Vitorino, while Nelson and accomplices await their court appearance.
In total, 460 kilos of cannabis were seized, with each courier carrying suitcases containing 20 kilos of drugs hidden beneath clothing layers and tracked by Apple Air Tags linked to the same account.
The operation raised suspicions leading to increased security in customs, culminating in the discovery of the drugs.
The case highlights a rising trend in cannabis smuggling attempts into the UK, with significant increases noted over recent years.
The National Crime Agency has launched a campaign targeting young people about the dangers and consequences of smuggling drugs, emphasised through film across social media platforms.