The UK Home Office has warned young people against accepting free luxury holidays from organised crime groups recruiting them to smuggle cannabis into the country.
UK Warns Young Travellers Over Drug Gang Luxury Holiday Lure
Border Force issued the advisory on July 17 ahead of the busy summer travel season, following a sharp rise in cannabis smuggling through UK airports, according to Vanguard News. Intercepted cannabis couriers jumped from 142 in 2023 to 976 in 2025, with 600 arrests recorded in the first half of 2026 alone, mostly men aged 18-37 travelling from Thailand.
Border Force Lead Officer Kate Goldstone said gangs exploit young people for profit while leaving them facing severe legal consequences. Penalties for smuggling cannabis into the UK include prison sentences of up to 14 years. Cannabis seizures at UK airports rose 50% over the past year, from 2.1 tonnes in 2022 to over 28 tonnes in 2025.
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