Manchester Airport Border Force officers find 'biggest' drugs haul in years in suitcases
Manchester Airport's Border Force officers found what it says is the 'biggest' drugs haul for years being smuggled inside luggage. The officers found eight suitcases crammed with cannabis in what was a brazen attempt at smuggling a huge amount of the Class B drug.
Spanish national, Fernando Jacobo Mayans Fuster, from Zaragoza, has now been charged with drug-smuggling offences by the National Crime Agency. The 51-year-old arrived into the airport on Wednesday 1 May, having flown from Los Angeles in the US, via London Heathrow.
He was arrested after Border Force officers located 278 packages inside eight separate bags. A number of the bags had been checked-in in the names of his children, who were travelling with him.
In total more than 158 kilos of cannabis was recovered, which would have had a street value of around £1 million if sold in the UK.
After being interviewed by NCA investigators Mayans Fuster was charged with importing class B drugs.
He is expected to appear before Stockport magistrates later today, Friday, May 3.
NCA senior investigating officer Charles Lee said: “This is one of the biggest cannabis seizures we have seen at Manchester Airport in recent years. The drugs would have generated significant profits.
“NCA officers are determined to work with our partners at Border Force to stop drug smuggling and disrupt the criminal networks behind it.”
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