UK Border Force warns young travellers of cannabis smuggling scams

UK Border Force has reported a sharp rise in cannabis‑smuggling arrests among young travellers, with figures jumping from 142 in 2023 to 976 in 2025 and about 600 passengers seized in the first half of the year, mainly men aged 18‑31 arriving from Thailand. Criminal gangs are using TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat to lure school and university leavers with offers of free or cheap holidays, luxury flights and accommodation, promising easy money in exchange for transporting cannabis.

The force issued a five‑point advice list: refuse any “free” travel or lodging, especially to countries where cannabis is legal such as Thailand, Canada and the United States; never travel with a bag that isn’t yours and check its contents; be wary of social‑media approaches; keep personal documents, especially passports, under your control; and remember that cannabis remains illegal in the UK. Those caught could face up to 14 years’ imprisonment, a criminal record and future travel restrictions. Seizures have hit a record high, with more than 28 tonnes of cannabis confiscated from air passengers in 2025, up from 2.1 tonnes in 2022.