A 46-year-old man, Bernard Kennedy, has been sentenced to two years in prison after attempting to smuggle £144,000 worth of cannabis into the UK through Manchester Airport. Kennedy was caught by Border Force officers on March 20, 2024, when his suitcases, delayed during his travel from Bangkok via Dubai, were found to contain 48 kilos of cannabis wrapped in vacuum packages.
Kennedy, from Grizedale in Widnes, had made multiple trips to Thailand over the past several months, including November, December, January, February, and March. When his luggage finally arrived, officers discovered the cannabis hidden inside. Kennedy later admitted the suitcases were his and was arrested for being involved in the illegal importation of a class B drug.
Kennedy attempted to explain his actions by claiming he ran out of money while holidaying in Thailand and was approached by individuals who promised him a large sum to return the suitcases to Manchester. However, the judge, Recorder Jeremy Lasker, rejected this explanation, noting the frequent nature of Kennedy’s trips to Thailand and the clear knowledge he had of the size and scale of the importation.
Kennedy’s barrister, Huw Edwards, spoke of his client’s remorse and difficult circumstances, mentioning Kennedy’s long career working in a children’s home and struggles with mental health after the death of his father. Despite this, Recorder Lasker emphasized that Kennedy was fully aware of the risks and scale of his actions.
Kennedy was sentenced to two years in prison, with the possibility of release on license after serving half of his sentence.
