A businessman with a master’s degree has been jailed for smuggling nearly £2 million worth of cannabis from Canada to the UK. Dao Guo, a shareholder in a freight company, played a key role in an organised crime group, using his position to disguise drug shipments as legitimate imports.
The 48-year-old father-of-two, from Pillow Way in Buckingham, was caught transporting 183.6kg of cannabis hidden in a consignment of wood chippings while driving on the M6 in November 2023. When police searched his home, they discovered £17,000 in cash.
Further investigations revealed that Guo had smuggled another 212kg of cannabis the previous day, bringing the total amount to 395kg, with an estimated wholesale value of £2 million. The drugs had to be split into two separate deliveries because his van could not handle the weight in one trip.
Prosecutors detailed how Guo personally coordinated the smuggling operation, contacting exporters, falsifying shipping records, and instructing suppliers on how to label and conceal the drugs. He also planned delivery schedules to avoid detection.
In court, Guo claimed he had been deceived, insisting that a business partner had tricked him into believing the shipments contained cigars. He told the jury he had received £5,000 from a £25,000 payment and that his superior had taken the rest—some of which was found at his home.
Despite his claims, Guo was convicted of importing, supplying, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, he was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
During sentencing, Judge Anil Murray acknowledged Guo’s intelligence but made it clear he was a key figure in an organised crime network.
