Birmingham:A Ghanaian man has been captured among a gang of drug smugglers attempting to import cannabis worth £13.8 million into the UK through Birmingham Airport. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has stated that the convicted members will face "life-altering convictions."
According to Ghana Web, five members of the group, whose plan was foiled due to excess baggage charges, were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court. The group was arrested in August 2024 after Border Force officers discovered the Class B drug packed into 22 suitcases at the airport.
The NCA, with assistance from Border Force, uncovered the gang's route from Thailand via Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The smugglers were required to pay excess baggage fees at Bangkok airport due to the weight of their luggage, raising suspicions among authorities. This led to the cannabis discovery when the suitcases were checked at Birmingham Airport.
Each gang member was found with two suitcases containing vacuum-packed cannabis concealed beneath clothing. In total, 460 kilograms of cannabis were seized. Investigators found that eight of the suitcases included Apple Air Tag trackers connected to the same Apple ID account.
The 11 gang members faced charges related to attempting to carry, remove, deposit, harbor, keep, conceal, and deal with Class B drugs with intent to evade importation prohibition. Sentences varied among the gang members, with Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun and Ryan Boachie receiving 24 months each, Claire McCullough receiving a total of 26 months, Jaden Ramen receiving 32 months, and Paige Crisp receiving 30 months. Tasia Nelson and Jamal Clarke are scheduled for sentencing on 30 October.
The NCA emphasized the significant penalties for such crimes and expressed gratitude to the Border Force for their role in intercepting the drug shipment, reiterating their commitment to preventing drug smuggling and disrupting criminal profits.