UK convicts 11 couriers in 460kg cannabis smuggling case

Eleven drug couriers have been convicted over a sophisticated plot to smuggle £13.8m worth of cannabis into the UK through Birmingham Airport, Punch reported. According to the National Crime Agency, Border Force officers arrested the group in August 2024 after seizing 460kg of Class B drugs concealed inside 22 suitcases.

The couriers had flown from Thailand via Paris before being intercepted at Birmingham. Eight suitcases contained Apple AirTags linked to a single Apple ID, which helped investigators track the group. Six defendants pleaded guilty, while others were convicted following trial. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3 and October 22, respectively.