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Crime gang is jailed for smuggling almost £30m in drug cash to Dubai via Manchester Airport on Emirates flights

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

Eight members of the criminal network jailed after smuggling nearly £30m in drug proceeds through Manchester Airport to Dubai, where Sophie Logan had been living throughout the conspiracy.
Eight members of the criminal network jailed after smuggling nearly £30m in drug proceeds through Manchester Airport to Dubai, where Sophie Logan had been living throughout the conspiracy.

Judge Abigail Hudson at Bolton Crown Court called the convicted members a "shallow group of individuals" who "revelled in spending obscene amounts of money" that came from serious criminal activity, overwhelmingly drug dealing. Sophie Logan, 31, received the heaviest sentence of seven and a half years, while Heather Jeffrey, 58, from Bradford, was jailed for six and a half years and Devanyl Graham, 27, from Dewsbury, for six years. The gang couriered just under £22 million between them, concealing cash in suitcases packed with clothing before flying it to Dubai on Emirates flights from Manchester, Birmingham and Brussels airports.

Emirates check-in worker Emma Rauf, 34, from Wilmslow, admitted helping couriers dodge scrutiny and is due to be sentenced on October 29.

The ringleader, a British Dubai-based organiser who coordinated the operation via WhatsApp, is still awaiting extradition and cannot be named.

One gang member complained to the judge that his punishment had forced him to move back to the UK from Dubai.

Moremanchestereveningnews.co.ukThe excuses of a dirty cash gang, as one moans 'I've had to move back to UK from Dubai' - Manchester Evening Newsasianimage.co.ukCrime gang members jailed after smuggling almost £30m in cash to DubaiLiverpool EchoCorrupt Emirates Manchester Airport check-in attendant part of plot to smuggle criminal cash - Liverpool Echoknutsfordguardian.co.ukCorrupt check-in attendant to learn fate as gang jailed over £30m smuggling operationgov.ukCrime group members who smuggled large amounts of cash to the UAE are sentenced
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