Woman jailed for 25 months for smuggling £512,000 of cannabis
Amy Jayne Durban was arrested at Heathrow Airport after arriving from Bangkok with suitcases full of drugs.
Incident → evidence → outcomeAmy Jayne Durban has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for smuggling 51.2kg of cannabis from Thailand into the UK. The drugs, found in her suitcases, had an estimated street value of at least £512,000. Durban was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 6 July after arriving on a flight from Bangkok.
Court proceedings and guilty plea
Durban, aged 45, pleaded guilty to smuggling Class B drugs at Isleworth Crown Court in August. She returned to the same court on 15 October where she received her sentence.
Rising numbers of drug couriers
The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into Durban's activities comes amid a significant increase in the number of individuals caught smuggling cannabis into the UK by plane. In 2023, 142 such smugglers were apprehended. This figure rose sharply to 801 in 2024, a 464% increase, and reached 976 in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, 600 air passenger couriers have already been arrested.
Organised crime groups often approach young people on social media, offering 'free' holidays and spending money in exchange for carrying cannabis. The NCA warns that those caught face severe consequences, including prison time in the UK and potential jail sentences and substantial fines in countries like Thailand if caught there.
NCA campaign targets young people
Mark Abbott, NCA senior investigating officer, stated that couriers face 'really bad outcomes at home and abroad'. He added that a conviction can damage future career and travel prospects and that profits from cannabis smuggling fund other drug trafficking operations, fuelling wider crime. The NCA has launched a social media campaign across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to warn young people about the dangers of drug smuggling. The campaign directs viewers to Crimestoppers for information on carrying drugs for crime gangs and how to report such approaches anonymously.
Questions this report answers
01How much cannabis was seized and what was its value?
Amy Jayne Durban was found with 51.2kg of cannabis. The National Crime Agency estimates its street value to be at least £512,000. This quantity of drugs led to her conviction and sentencing.
02When and where was Amy Jayne Durban arrested?
Amy Jayne Durban was arrested on 6 July at Heathrow Airport. She was apprehended by Border Force officers after arriving on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
03What sentence did Amy Jayne Durban receive?
Amy Jayne Durban was sentenced to 25 months in prison. She pleaded guilty to smuggling Class B drugs at Isleworth Crown Court and received her sentence on 15 October.
04Why is the National Crime Agency running a campaign about drug smuggling?
The NCA is running a campaign to warn young people about the dangers of drug smuggling, particularly from Thailand. They highlight the risks of foreign jail sentences, damage to future prospects, and how profits fund wider criminal activity.
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