Nine US citizens have been charged after they were caught trying to smuggle £5.5million worth of cannabis from LA to Heathrow in the space of six days
- Nine US citizens have been arrested and charged in the past week
- Between 66 pounds and 110 pounds of cannabis were found on each suspect
- The first passenger was stopped on Tuesday January 10th and no later than Monday
A number of passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Heathrow were found with around 750 pounds of cannabis worth £5.5million, sparking a criminal investigation.
Nine US citizens have been arrested and charged in the past week after being stopped at Central London Airport in less than seven days.
The National Crime Agency said each suspect was found with between 66 pounds and 110 pounds (30kg and 50kg) of cannabis in checked bags.
The first passenger was stopped on Tuesday 10 January, then another on Friday 13th, two more the following day, four on Sunday and one on Monday.
A number of passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Heathrow were found with around 750 pounds of cannabis worth £5.5million, sparking a criminal investigation. Above: Some of the drugs seized
They are all accused of attempting to import class B drugs.
NCA Chief Investigator Darren Barr said: “We are working to understand how these seizures are related.
“However, it is clearly very unusual to divert so many from the same route in such a short period of time.
“Drug mules face severe penalties, so I urge anyone considering engaging in such ventures to think very carefully about the consequences.”
Nine US citizens have been arrested and charged in the past week after being stopped at Central London Airport in less than seven days
The first passenger was stopped on Tuesday 10 January, then another on Friday 13th, two more the following day, four on Sunday and one on Monday (file photo).
Border Force Chief Operating Officer Steve Dann said: “Drugs are fueling violence and chaos in the streets and causing suffering in communities across the UK.
“Thanks to the work of Border Force, these dangerous drugs have been prevented from reaching the streets of Britain and causing significant damage to our neighborhoods.”
It comes after a male sex worker was caught trying to smuggle 101 packets of cocaine into the UK via Heathrow.
Luan Irving Dos Santos Monteiro, 31, originally from Macapá, Brazil, was arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport on Christmas Eve 2020.
He claimed he worked as a drug courier to pay off his debts during the coronavirus pandemic