Amy Jayne Durban pleads guilty to smuggling £512,000 of cannabis at Heathrow
The 45-year-old from Devon was arrested after arriving from Thailand with 51.2kg of Class B drugs in her luggage
Incident → evidence → outcomeA woman who attempted to smuggle cannabis worth more than half a million pounds into London has admitted the offence at court. Amy Jayne Durban, 45, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 6 July after arriving from Bangkok with 51.2kg of the Class B drug concealed in two suitcases.
Durban, who lives in Hemyock, Devon, entered a guilty plea at Isleworth Crown Court on 6 August. She was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 14 October. The cannabis seized has an estimated street value of at least £512,000, as reported by MyLondon.
Rise in airport drug seizures
The case comes amid a sharp increase in drug smuggling through UK airports. The National Crime Agency stated that 600 couriers have been arrested in British airports in the first six months of 2026. This follows 976 arrests in 2025 and 801 in 2024, compared with 142 in 2023.
Mark Abbott, a senior investigating officer at the National Crime Agency, said organised crime groups often recruit couriers through social media. They offer a free holiday and spending money in exchange for transporting drugs. Abbott warned that profits from cannabis smuggling fund the trafficking of other drugs, which contribute to wider crime in communities.
“There are really bad outcomes at home and abroad when couriers are caught smuggling cannabis. As well as time in prison, a life-changing conviction will damage future career and travel prospects.”
Penalties in Thailand
The National Crime Agency also highlighted stricter penalties for drug smugglers in Thailand. Offenders now face fines of approximately £680 per kilogram of cannabis seized. The agency noted that the average smuggler is caught with 26kg, which could result in a fine of £17,680. Failure to pay can lead to a prison sentence of up to two years.
What happens next
Durban will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on 14 October 2026. The maximum penalty for importing Class B drugs is 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. The court will consider the quantity of drugs involved and any previous convictions when determining her sentence.
Questions this report answers
01How much cannabis was seized at Heathrow?
Border Force officers seized 51.2kg of cannabis from Amy Jayne Durban at Heathrow Airport on 6 July 2026. The drugs had an estimated street value of £512,000, as reported by MyLondon.
02When will Amy Jayne Durban be sentenced?
Durban will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on 14 October 2026. She pleaded guilty to smuggling Class B drugs on 6 August and remains in custody.
03How many drug couriers have been arrested at UK airports in 2026?
The National Crime Agency reported that 600 couriers have been arrested at British airports in the first six months of 2026. This follows a rise in arrests in previous years.
04What are the penalties for drug smuggling in Thailand?
Smugglers in Thailand face fines of around £680 per kilogram of cannabis seized. The average smuggler is caught with 26kg, which could result in a fine of £17,680 or up to two years in prison if unpaid.
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CourtsHounslow woman admits smuggling £512,000 of cannabis from Thailand
