Manchester Airport has witnessed a series of drug smuggling arrests this year, with multiple travellers caught attempting to import large quantities of cannabis. Among the cases, Lauren Martin, 24, was stopped on April 5 after returning from Thailand. Border Force officers found 31 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis weighing 49kg in her suitcase, despite her claiming it contained only clothing.
In another incident, Larissa Lins, 27, was arrested after showing officers holiday photos that revealed white pellets. Further searches uncovered a kilogramme of drugs she had ingested and hidden internally and externally. She had claimed she was visiting the UK to 'research nice places'.
Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, were stopped at Birmingham International Airport with over 35kg of cannabis in their luggage. The pair, who appeared to have returned from a shopping trip to New York, sobbed in court as they were sentenced.
Edward Nesbitt, 36, a former boxer, was jailed for 12 months for importing 23kg of cannabis. He collected the suitcase from the luggage carousel after Yoke Woon, 43, had left it there following a flight from Singapore. Nesbitt claimed he was pressured into the scheme after losing a poker game.
Chad James, from Blackpool, was arrested at Manchester Airport in February 2023 while attempting to flee the country. He was part of an organised gang that sold drugs via prison, using encrypted network Encrochat. James pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but continued to run his empire from behind bars.
Archie Payne, 26, was caught with over 20kg of cannabis at Manchester Airport. He claimed he thought the suitcases contained cigarettes and had been pressured into the scheme after losing a poker game in Thailand. Payne pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of the importation of drugs.
