Eleven Charged After £13.8 Million Cannabis Seizure at Birmingham Airport

Major Drug Haul at Birmingham Airport Leads to Charges

Eleven individuals have been charged in connection with the attempted smuggling of approximately £13.8 million worth of cannabis at Birmingham Airport in August 2024. The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that over half a tonne (510 kg) of the Class B drug was discovered packed into 22 suitcases.

The individuals, aged between 21 and 35, had all travelled to the United Kingdom from Thailand, transiting through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Border Force officers made the initial discovery of the significant cannabis consignment.

Court Appearances and Ongoing Investigation

Nine of those charged appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Friday, October 31, 2025. They were subsequently bailed until their next appearance at Birmingham Crown Court on November 28, 2025. One individual, Bradley Lloyd, failed to appear in court, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest, while Clare McCullogh's hearing was adjourned until December 5, 2025.

The charged individuals include:

• Ryan Boachie, 31, of Hendon Road, Edmonton, north London
• Tasia Nelson, 21, of Cheviot Road, Newquay, Cornwall
• Jaden Ramen, 22, of Myra Close, Colliers Wood, south London
• Lewis Ross, 35, of Rupert Street, Bolton, Lancashire
• Bradley Lloyd, 27, of Midbrook Walk, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester
• Clare McCullogh, 35, of Meliden Crescent, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester
• Paige Cheri Crisp, 24, of Grindrod Place, Malvern, Worcestershire
• Nathan Vitorino, 25, of Little Hardings, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
• Jamal Clarke, 21, of Holloway Circus, Queensway, Birmingham
• Gideon Olumoyegun, 25, of Stour Road, Dagenham
• Carsten Kyei, 21, of Denmark Street, Newham, east London

The investigation by the NCA remains ongoing. Six men suspected of organising the attempted importation were arrested on October 23, 2024, at addresses in Marsh Farm, Luton, and Finchley, north London, and also remain under investigation.

NCA Warning on Drug Smuggling

NCA Branch Commander Kevin Broadhead described the seizure as an 'enormous amount of cannabis' that would have been 'extremely profitable for organised crime gangs' had it gone undetected. He issued a stern warning to anyone considering smuggling drugs into the UK, stating that 'the chances of getting caught are high, and it just isn't worth that risk.'

The NCA has highlighted a significant increase in cannabis seizures at UK airports, with approximately 15 tonnes detected by August 2024, a threefold increase compared to the entirety of 2023. Countries such as Thailand, Canada, and parts of the United States where cannabis is decriminalised or legally grown are identified as key trafficking hotspots to the UK.