– BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
Eleven people have been convicted for their roles in an organized attempt to smuggle cannabis worth £13.8 million into the UK through Birmingham Airport. The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that the group was detained by Border Force in August 2024 after officers discovered approximately 460 kilograms of the Class B drug concealed in 22 suitcases. The couriers had traveled from Thailand, with a layover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Each of the 11 individuals was carrying two large suitcases containing about 20 kilograms of vacuum-packed cannabis, hidden beneath a thin layer of clothing. The suitcases were so heavy that excess baggage fees were paid in Bangkok, and several of them contained Apple AirTag tracking devices linked to the same account. Border Force issued alerts after spotting passengers who appeared connected and were carrying similar luggage earlier that day, leading to the group's interception.
Among those convicted is Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, a 26-year-old resident of Dagenham, identified as a Nigerian national. He pleaded guilty at an earlier stage of the proceedings, as did several co-defendants. Others were found guilty following trials at Birmingham Crown Court, with final convictions recorded on August 19, 2026.
Investigators described the scheme as a carefully coordinated operation involving synchronized flights and luggage tracking. The seizure prevented a significant quantity of drugs from reaching UK streets and thwarted the financial profits sought by the organized network behind the operation.
The sentencing of Olumoyegun and several other defendants is scheduled for September 3, 2026, while the remaining defendants are due to appear on October 22, 2026. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by British authorities to combat drug-smuggling routes involving air passengers.