A Newquay woman is among a group awaiting sentencing for their part in a plot to smuggle cannabis worth £13.8 million into the UK through Birmingham Airport.
Tasia Nelson, 22, from Newquay, Cornwall, and several others are due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 22nd October.
The National Crime Agency led the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of gang members at Birmingham Airport in August 2024. Border Force officers found the class B drugs hidden in 22 suitcases that had been flown in from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Previously sentenced gang members include Carsten Kyei, Bradley Lloyd, Lewis Ross and Nathan Vitorino. Nelson and her accomplices are still awaiting their court appearance.
In total, 460 kilos of cannabis were seized. Each courier carried suitcases containing 20 kilos of drugs, hidden beneath layers of clothing and tracked by Apple Air Tags linked to the same account.
The operation raised suspicions that led to increased security in customs, which ultimately led to the discovery of the drugs.
The case highlights a rising trend in cannabis smuggling attempts into the UK, with significant increases noted in recent years.
The National Crime Agency has launched a campaign aimed at young people, warning of the dangers and consequences of drug smuggling. The campaign uses film across social media platforms.
Newquay Woman Among Those to Be Sentenced in Cannabis Smuggling Case