Drug gang is jailed after paying EXCESS BAGGAGE fees to smuggle £13.8m of cannabis through Birmingham Airport

Their 22 suitcases were so heavy that the couriers had to pay extra at Bangkok airport before flying via Paris to Birmingham in August 2024. Border Force linked the seizures to connecting flights and fully staffed the 'nothing to declare' green channel. Jaden Ramen, 23, got 32 months and Paige Crisp, 25, from Worcester, got 30 months at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday. Ryan Boachie, Gideon Olumoyegun and Claire McCullough each got 24 months.

Officers seized 460kg of vacuum-packed cannabis hidden beneath clothes, 20kg per courier.

Eight cases held Apple AirTags, all linked to the same Apple ID account.

NCA officer Paul Boniface said the couriers face 'life-altering convictions' that wreck their travel prospects.