A British mother was caught smuggling over £500,000 worth of Thai cannabis into the UK after she hid it in her suitcase.
Amy Jayne Durban had stuffed her suitcase full of 51.2kg of cannabis on her flight back home from Thailand. The 45-year-old’s huge haul is thought to have a street value of around £512,000.
The mum, from Hemycock, Cullompton in Devon, was met by border force agents when she arrived back in the UK on July 6. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport following an investigation from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
After appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in July, she pleaded guilty to smuggling Class B drugs at Isleworth Crown Court on August 6.
She was remanded into custody and her sentencing is due to take place on 14 Oct. Just days before her arrest, Amy made a cryptic post on social media.
View 3 ImagesDurbur hid cannabis in her suitcase(Image: Jam Press/NCA)
Just days before her arrest, Durban made a cryptic post on social media. Writing on Facebook, she said: “On her way home to cut the grass if you know what I mean.
“No ETA so you won’t know I’m about to hit your lawn.”
The NCA says there has been a rapid rise in drug couriers attempting to smuggle cannabis into the UK. Brits are usually approached on social media by organised gangs offering a “free holiday” and spending money.
In exchange, they want the Brits to smuggle the drugs back into the UK. Once on British shores, the cannabis is then picked up by other criminals who move it on.
Between 2023 and 2024, the number of cannabis smugglers caught on planes soared by a staggering 464%, rocketing from 142 to 801 arrests.
View 3 ImagesAmy Durban smuggled cannabis into the UK(Image: Jam Press/NCA)
That figure continued to climb in 2025, and 2026 is already shaping up to be even more alarming — with 600 passengers detained in just the first six months of the year.
Durban’s conviction follows a joint announcement by the NCA and their Thai counterparts of a tough new crackdown on drug smuggling in the country.
Those caught attempting to bring cannabis through now face crippling fines of £680 per kg. The typical smuggler is apprehended carrying around 26kg — leaving them with a £17,680 penalty to pay.
Fail to stump up the cash, and they face a two-year stretch behind bars in a Thai prison.
NCA senior investigating officer Mark Abbott said: “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. People should understand that these crime groups use profits from cannabis smuggling to fund the trafficking of other drugs too.
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“All of those drugs fuel wider crime in our communities and have a toxic effect on people’s lives.”
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