High stakes: British man nabbed in 300kg cannabis smuggling bust
A British man from Wolverhampton has been caught red-handed in a massive international drug smuggling operation, with more than 300 kilogrammes of cannabis seized at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
The 22 year old Brit, Peter Kargbo, was nabbed at London’s Gatwick Airport on Saturday, September 21, after arriving from Bangkok with a suitcase stuffed with 20 kilogrammes of cannabis.
A second man, 29 year old Canadian national Malik Barrett, also found himself in cuffs after Border Force officers discovered another 20 kilogrammes in his luggage. Both men were promptly arrested and appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 24. They were remanded into custody, awaiting their next court appearances in October.
But Kargbo and Barrett are just two of an 11-strong group caught trying to flood the UK with cannabis. Other individuals, including 21 year old Paige Jonas-Willingham and 42 year old Paul Lambert were stopped with 45 kilogrammes of the drug while 22 year old Canadian volleyball player Raekelle Powell had 19 kilogrammes in their suitcases.
An American woman, 35 year old Victoria Roberson from California, was found with 36 kilogrammes of the drug, while another traveller, 24 year old Siobhan McTavey from Northern Ireland, was busted with a shocking 45 kilogrammes, reported the Express & Star UK.
The group, including several other Canadian and Malaysian nationals, were charged with smuggling class B drugs. They all face hefty prison sentences, said National Crime Agency Branch Commander Andy Noyes.
“The gangs behind this trafficking don’t care about those who get caught – they just want their money,” . “If you try to smuggle drugs into the UK, you will be arrested, and you will spend time in prison.”
The NCA continues to work with international partners to dismantle these drug operations and urges anyone with information to call Border Force’s Customs Hotline on 0800 595 000.
