Charges following £13.8 million cannabis haul at Birmingham Airport

Charges Following £13.8 Million Cannabis Haul at Birmingham Airport

Eleven people have been charged as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation after more than half a tonne of cannabis was seized at Birmingham Airport.

Details of the Seizure

In August 2024, Border Force officers discovered 22 suitcases filled with cannabis. The passengers, all aged 21 to 35, had flown from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The total weight of the drugs reached 510 kilograms, with an estimated UK street value of £13.8 million.

Court Proceedings

Nine defendants appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 31 October and were released on bail until their next hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 28 November 2025. Clare McCullogh’s case was postponed to 5 December 2025. Bradley Lloyd did not attend the hearing, leading magistrates to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities continue to probe six men believed to be behind the importation attempt. Five of them were detained on 23 October 2024 at locations in Marsh Farm, Luton, and Finchley, north London.

“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,” said NCA Branch Commander Kevin Broadhead.

“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

Over half a tonne of cannabis worth £13.8 million was seized at Birmingham Airport, leading to 11 charges and a continuing NCA probe into the smuggling network.

National Crime Agency — 2025-11-01