Charges Following £13.8 Million Cannabis Seizure at Birmingham Airport
Eleven people have been charged in connection with a National Crime Agency investigation after more than half a tonne of cannabis was found at Birmingham Airport. The drugs, totaling 510 kilograms, were discovered packed in 22 separate suitcases in August 2024 by Border Force.
All passengers involved had traveled from Thailand, with a transit stop at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The seized cannabis had an estimated UK street value of £13.8 million.
Court Appearances and Warrants
Nine of the accused appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 31 October 2025 and were granted bail until their next hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 28 November 2025. Clare McCullogh's hearing was postponed to 5 December 2025. Bradley Lloyd did not attend court, prompting magistrates to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Ongoing Investigation Into Organisers
Six men, believed to have organised the attempted importation, remain under investigation. Five of them were arrested on 23 October 2024 at locations in Marsh Farm, Luton, and Finchley, north London.
NCA Branch Commander Kevin Broadhead stated: “This was an enormous amount of cannabis to be seized from air passengers and would have been extremely profitable for organised crime gangs had it remained undetected. The charges brought against these individuals are an important moment in our investigation, which remains ongoing. Anyone who is asked to smuggle drugs into the UK should think very carefully about the potential consequences if caught.”
Author's summary: The seizure of 510 kilos of cannabis at Birmingham Airport has led to charges against eleven individuals, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat organised drug smuggling into the UK.