Birmingham, September 22, 2026: Four men have been sentenced for their roles in an attempt to bring an estimated £13.8 million worth of cannabis into the United Kingdom through Birmingham Airport, in a case investigated by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The drugs were intercepted by Border Force officers in August 2024, after a group of passengers arrived in Britain from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle. Authorities discovered cannabis concealed inside 22 suitcases, with the total seizure weighing approximately 460 kilograms.

Four defendants receive prison sentences

The four men sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on September 21 were Carsten Kyei, Nathan Vitorino, Lewis Ross and Bradley Lloyd.

According to the NCA, Lloyd received a four-year prison sentence, while Vitorino and Ross were each sentenced to two years and eight months. Kyei received two and a half years in prison.

The four were part of a larger group of 11 people investigated over the attempted importation.

Cannabis hidden inside suitcases

Investigators said each courier was carrying two suitcases, with approximately 20 kilograms of cannabis packed into each case. The drugs were vacuum-packed and concealed beneath clothing.

The weight of the luggage was reportedly so high that the passengers had to pay additional baggage charges at Bangkok Airport before travelling to Britain.

Investigators also discovered that eight of the suitcases contained Apple AirTag tracking devices. The NCA said the trackers were connected to the same Apple ID account, providing investigators with another potential link between the luggage.

Border Force operation led to seizure

The investigation began after Border Force officers identified connections between several passengers travelling into Birmingham.

Officials increased staffing at the airport’s “Nothing to Declare” customs channel. The additional checks resulted in the discovery of the cannabis-filled suitcases.

The seizure prevented the shipment from reaching its intended destination in the UK, according to investigators.

Larger investigation remains active

The case involves more than the four men sentenced this week.

The NCA said several other members of the group have already been convicted or pleaded guilty, while Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, Ryan Boachie, Jamal Clarke, Claire McCullough, Jaden Ramen, Paige Crisp and Tasia Nelson are due to face sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on October 22, 2026.

Their individual legal positions and sentences remain matters for the court.

Increase in cannabis courier arrests

The NCA also highlighted a significant increase in people being arrested after allegedly attempting to bring cannabis into Britain by air.

According to the agency, 801 air passengers were arrested for cannabis smuggling in 2024, rising to 976 in 2025. Between January and June 2026, authorities had already arrested 600 air-passenger couriers, according to the NCA.

The figures have prompted UK authorities to increase efforts to disrupt drug-smuggling networks and warn potential couriers about the legal consequences.

Authorities target organised networks

The NCA said the Birmingham Airport case demonstrated the level of coordination involved in international drug trafficking, while Border Force emphasised cooperation with domestic and overseas law-enforcement agencies.

The investigation also illustrates how customs intelligence, passenger information and targeted airport checks can be combined to identify suspicious shipments.

Authorities continue to investigate the wider network connected to the case.