Dad ‘tried to smuggle £1,000,000 worth of cannabis into UK in child’s suitcase’ --[Reported by Umva mag]

A man has been charged with drug smuggling after allegedly trying to sneak £1million worth of cannabis into the UK.

Nathaniel Benson, 45, was stopped by Border Force at Heathrow Airport after flying back from Bangkok, Thailand, with a 41-year-old woman and his two children.

Officers allegedly found 160 packages of cannabis spread across five suitcases, one of which was checked under one of his children’s names.

More than 100 kilos of cannabis were allegedly recovered, which would have had a street value in the UK of about £1million.

Benson, from Leeds, was charged with importing class B drugs after being interviewed by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The 41-year-old woman he was travelling with, from Harrogate, was also arrested but has since been bailed.

NCA senior investigating officer Ian Truby said: ‘Working with our partners in Border Force, we continue to clamp down on anyone involved in drugs smuggling.

‘I would urge anyone who is approached to carry out such smuggling attempts to seriously think about the consequences of their actions, which will include a prison sentence if caught and convicted.’

The NCA says the amount of cannabis seized so far in 2024 is already more than triple found during the whole of 2023.

People travelling with drugs as couriers were allegedly being told by their recruiters that they were only risking a fine if caught.

However, the maximum sentence for cannabis importation in the UK is up to 14 years in prison.

Benson appeared at Uxbridge magistrates court on Friday and will next appear at Isleworth crown court on October 24.

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