Manchester Airport Border Force officers stop 'evasive' passenger from Thailand before making big discovery

A drugs mule who tried to smuggle 30 kilos of cannabis into the UK claimed he had been 'coerced and threatened' by a mystery man in Thailand. Temitope Sona, 20, arrived at Manchester Airport when officers became suspicious of two large suitcases he had.

They quizzed him on the luggage, but found him 'evasive' and so investigated further. Inside one case was a number of vacuum-wrapped packages with a 'green herbal' substance later found to be cannabis.

Sona, from London, initially claimed he was coerced into carrying the drug into the UK by an 'unknown male' in Thailand. He has since pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug.

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At Manchester Crown Court, prosecutor Keira Shaw said that on January 2 this year, Sona arrived in Manchester on a flight from Phuket, Thailand. He had two large black suitcases.

He was stopped by a Border Force officer who asked if he packed the bags himself. He said yes. Sona denied bringing anything into the country, including drugs.

When the officer conducted an x-ray of the suitcases, it revealed a number of packages. "There were several vacuum packed packages containing a green herbal substance which was later tested and proved positive for cannabis," she added. "The total weight of the drugs was 30.55 kilograms."

Sona was arrested and interviewed. In a prepared statement, he claimed he travelled to Thailand with a friend from London. "He said he had been approached by an unknown male and that same male threatened them with violence if they did not bring cannabis back to the UK," the prosecutor added.

The court heard Sona's 'friend' didn't travel on the same flight and was not given any suitcases. Due to the defendant's lack of previous convictions and young age, Judge John Potter sentenced him to a suspended jail term. He did not hear mitigation from his barrister.

Judge Potter described the offences as an 'act of folly'. "It is sad to see somebody with a promising future such as you have, almost throw it all away," he said.

"It appears you agreed to take part in smuggling drugs into the country, it is not clear why you agreed to take that course. This was an act of folly.

"You have placed your liberty at risk and the good name of you and your family. You have brought disgrace onto yourself and your family. You must take responsibility for what you stupidly decided to do."

Sona, of Kimberley Road, was handed a 12 month prison term which was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 250 hours unpaid work.