A 20-year-old Polish man, Arkadiusz Golab, has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to smuggling £94,000 worth of cannabis into Newcastle International Airport. Golab, who claimed he was coerced by an organised crime syndicate, was caught on August 30, 2024, after Border Force officials found 23.6 kg of cannabis hidden in his luggage upon arrival from Dubai.
During the court proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that Golab had traveled from Manchester to Thailand, where he was allegedly instructed by a criminal network to retrieve a mysterious package. After meeting several people involved in the operation in Bangkok, Golab was given instructions to transport the drugs back to the UK. He admitted to being promised £2,000 for successfully delivering the cannabis, but claimed he was coerced into participating due to threats against his family.
Golab’s defense lawyer, Kelly Clarke, stated that he was under intense pressure from the crime syndicate, who had monitored his family and made threats if he refused. Golab, with no prior criminal record, expressed deep remorse and regret over his involvement in the trafficking operation.
This case is part of a wider trend of cannabis trafficking from Thailand to the UK. Other recent arrests include British nationals caught smuggling cannabis in similar circumstances, offering a glimpse into the growing trend of drug barons recruiting traffickers under the guise of holidays and financial rewards.