A Canadian professional volleyball player is one of 11 people who have been arrested at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports on suspicion of trying to smuggle more than 300 kilos of cannabis into the UK in the space of just two days.
Raekelle Powell, 22, from Toronto, was apprehended by the UK Border Force on September 21 after 19 kilos of cannabis was discovered in his suitcases after he arrived on a direct flight from the Canadian city.
On the same day, 35-year-old US citizen Victoria Roberson was arrested after 36 kilos of cannabis was found in her checked-in baggage after she arrived on a flight from California.
Two Brits were also arrested on the same day when around 45 kilos of cannabis was found in two checked bags after they arrived from Bangkok. Paige Jonas-Willingham, 21, and Paul Lambert, 42, both face lengthy jail sentences if they are found guilty of trying to illegally import the drugs.
In the last year, the UK Border Force has stepped up checks on passengers arriving on flights from Canada, California, and Thailand after seeing a spike in drug gangs trying to smuggle cannabis into the United Kingdom from countries where it is legal to grow it.
Not only can legally grown cannabis command a higher price because it is of better quality, but it is also cheaper to source because it doesn’t involve trying to set up underground cannabis factories that are frequently targeted by British police.
“The gangs behind the trafficking of cannabis into the UK do not care that the couriers will likely be arrested and end up in prison – their sole purpose is to make money,” warned Andy Noyes, branch commander of the National Crime Agency.
“Anyone who attempts to smuggle drugs into the UK needs to know that you will be identified, you will be arrested and you will spend time in prison.”
Drug gangs often recruit young and otherwise law-abiding foreigners who are lured with the promise to make some quick money. Unlike in their home countries, however, cannabis remains illegal in the UK and is officially classified as a Class B drug.
According to the NCA, in a six-day period earlier this month, 17 people have been arrested and charged with attempting to traffic approximately 618 kilos of cannabis into the UK.
The arrests include professional footballers Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Nathaniel Benson. Three other Canadian citizens have also been remanded in custody in recent days after being arrested and charged with trying to smuggle cannabis into the UK.
Drug smugglers have been attempting to evade the UK Border Force, who have been stepping up inspections on passengers arriving on direct flights from Canada, California, and Thailand by rerouting their couriers through third countries.
Two Canadian citizens were arrested last weekend after they flew from Toronto via Copenhagen, only for customs officials to still stop them. 30.7 kilos and 34.7 kilos of the drug were found in luggage.
