A man from Leeds has been charged with drug smuggling offences after five suitcases packed with cannabis were seized at Heathrow Airport. Nathaniel Benson, 45, was arrested by Border Force officers on Wednesday, September 18, after arriving from Bangkok, Thailand.

Authorities discovered 160 packages of cannabis hidden within the suitcases, including one bag that had been checked in under the name of one of his children. Benson was travelling with his two children and a 41-year-old woman from Harrogate, who was also arrested but later released on bail.

The total haul amounted to over 100 kilograms of cannabis, with an estimated street value of around £1 million. Benson was charged with importing class B drugs and was due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Friday, September 20.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Ian Truby commented, “Working with our partners in Border Force, we continue to clamp down on anyone involved in drug smuggling. This includes both the couriers and the organised criminals behind importations like this one.”

In light of the arrest, the National Crime Agency (NCA) reiterated its warning to travellers about the severe consequences of drug smuggling. The NCA has observed a significant increase in cannabis seizures from travellers arriving into the UK from countries such as Thailand, Canada, and the United States, with seizures in 2024 already three times higher than in all of 2023.

Despite misconceptions among couriers that they risk only a fine if caught, the maximum sentence for cannabis importation in the UK is up to 14 years in prison.

The NCA and Border Force continue to work closely to disrupt drug smuggling networks and hold those involved accountable.