The National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched a new social media campaign warning young people that smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the UK could land them in a foreign jail.
The number of people trying to bring cannabis into the UK has sharply increased over recent years. In 2024, 801 cannabis smugglers were caught arriving in the UK by plane – an increase of 464% on 2023. This figure rose to 976 in 2025, and it’s on track to rise again in 2026 with 600 air passenger couriers arrested from January to June.
In exchange for taking cannabis to the UK, criminal gangs are offering young people a taste of the influencer lifestyle through promises of free holidays and cash.
But the reality is very different. Last month Thailand announced a new fines regime, in which anyone caught trying to smuggle cannabis out of the country must pay Thai Customs 30,000 Baht (around £680) per kilo of the drug, or face prosecution and up to two years in prison. The ‘average’ smuggler caught in Thailand carries 26 kilos, equating to a fine of £17,680.
Since the regime began 95 smugglers have been caught, 62 of whom were heading for the UK.
The NCA’s new campaign features a number of films aimed at tackling this trend.
The films will run across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube and will direct viewers to Crimestoppers (www.druggage.co.uk) where they can learn about the dangers of carrying drugs for crime gangs, and how to report it anonymously if they have been approached.
Beki Wright, Borders Threat Lead at the NCA, said: "Criminal gangs are targeting social media users with the promise of a free holiday and easy money.
"What they don't tell you is that if you're caught, you'll be left to face the consequences alone, while they walk away.
"You could be arrested and detained, facing a huge fine or jail abroad, followed by prosecution back in the UK and a criminal record that could follow you for the rest of your life.
"The influencers you see on social media promoting this lifestyle aren't showing you what happens next. We want people to see the full picture. It's not a shortcut to the good life, it's a route to a prison cell."
05 August 2026
