British mother Amy Jayne Durban caught smuggling £500,000 worth of Thai cannabis at Heathrow

Amy Jayne Durban, a 45‑year‑old from Hemyock, Devon, was detained by Border Force at Heathrow Airport on 6 July 2026 after returning from Bangkok with 51.2 kg of cannabis valued at about £512,000. The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated the case; Durban pleaded guilty to Class B drug smuggling at Isleworth Crown Court on 6 August 2026 and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 14 October.

Days before her arrest she posted on Facebook, "On my way home to cut the grass if you know what I mean," a comment that attracted media attention. NCA officials say cannabis courier arrests have surged, rising 464 % between 2023 and 2024 and reaching roughly 600 arrests in the first half of 2026. The crackdown follows a joint NCA‑Thai announcement imposing fines of £680 per kilogram and potential two‑year prison terms for offenders in Thailand.