Newham man jailed over £13.8m cannabis plot

Four individuals involved in a plot to import cannabis with an estimated value of £13.8 million into the United Kingdom have received prison sentences. The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated the group, who were apprehended by Border Force officers in August 2024. Officers discovered 22 suitcases filled with cannabis upon the group's arrival at Birmingham Airport, having travelled from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Sentencing details

At Birmingham Crown Court on 21 September 2026, Carsten Kyei, 21, from Newham, East London, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment. He was convicted following a three-week trial on 26 May 2026. Also sentenced were Bradley Lloyd, 27, from Greater Manchester, who received four years imprisonment; Lewis Ross, 35, from Lancashire, who was given two years and eight months; and Nathan Vitorino, 26, from Hertfordshire, who also received two years and eight months imprisonment. Lloyd and Vitorino changed their pleas to guilty during the trial, while Ross also pleaded guilty during the proceedings.

The court heard that each courier was carrying two suitcases, each containing 20 kilograms of cannabis, totalling 460 kilograms. The weight of the luggage led to excess charges being paid at Bangkok Airport to place them in the hold. Investigators found that eight of the suitcases contained Apple Air Tag trackers, all linked to the same Apple ID account. Border Force officers became suspicious after linking seizures to travellers on connecting flights into Birmingham, leading them to fully staff the 'nothing to declare' customs channel, where the cannabis was discovered.

Broader context and warnings

NCA senior investigating officer Paul Boniface stated that the sentences serve as a warning to drugs couriers, highlighting the significant consequences of smuggling cannabis. He emphasised that the effort is not worthwhile, a point often overlooked by social media influencers promoting such lifestyles. Adam Chatfield, Head of Border Force Midlands Command, added that these convictions should act as a stark warning, noting that the young people involved now have serious criminal records that could damage their future employment prospects.

The number of individuals caught attempting to bring cannabis into the UK by air has seen a substantial increase. In 2024, 801 cannabis smugglers were apprehended, a 464% rise compared to 2023. This figure increased to 976 in 2025 and is on track to rise further in 2026, with 600 air passenger couriers arrested between January and June. The NCA has launched a social media campaign across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to warn young people about the dangers of smuggling cannabis from Thailand, directing them to Crimestoppers for information and anonymous reporting.

Other individuals due to be sentenced on 22 October at the same court include Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, from Dagenham; Ryan Boachie, from Edmonton, North London; Jamal Clarke, from Walthamstow, London; Jaden Ramen, from Colliers Wood, South London; and Tasia Nelson, from Newquay, Cornwall. Claire McCullough and Paige Crisp, both from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, are also scheduled for sentencing.

Victoria Norman from the Crown Prosecution Service commented on the highly coordinated nature of the smuggling operation, stating that strong evidence led to the majority of the group pleading guilty. The CPS remains committed to working with the NCA to combat organised crime and bring those involved in drug smuggling to justice.