A British mum who smuggled £500,000-worth of cannabis into the UK has been sentenced to 25 months behind bars.
Amy Jayne Durban was caught by border control with 51.2kg of the illegal substance stuffed inside her suitcases.
The 45-year-old’s drug haul had an estimated street value of a whopping £512,000.
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The mother, who pleaded guilty at a previous court appearance, was sentenced to 25 months inside on 14 Oct, as reported by Need To Know.
Durban, from Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon, pleaded guilty to smuggling Class B drugs at Isleworth Crown Court in August following her arrest at Heathrow Airport on 6 Jul.
Border Force officers arrested the Brit after she returned to the UK from Bangkok, Thailand.
The sentence came at the end of an intense investigation led by the National Crime Agency – who are cracking down on a rising number of smuggling cases.
The NCA statistics state that in 2023 142 cannabis smugglers were caught arriving in the UK by plane.
In just one year that skyrocketed to 801, a 464% increase – with the number surging again in 2025 to 976.
In the first six months of 2026, 600 air passenger couriers were arrested in UK airports.
Brits are now allegedly being approached via social media by organised crime groups who offer a ‘free’ holiday with spending money.
The offer is made in exchange for the holidaymakers to take the cannabis home, where other criminals will take the drugs from them.
Just days before her arrest, Amy made a cryptic post on social media.
She said on Facebook: “On her way home to cut the grass if you know what I mean.
“No ETA so you won’t know I’m about to hit your lawn.”
Mark Abbott, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “There are really bad outcomes at home and abroad when couriers are caught smuggling cannabis.
“As well as time in prison, a life-changing conviction will damage future career and travel prospects.
“People should understand that these crime groups use profits from cannabis smuggling to fund the trafficking of other drugs too.
“All of those drugs fuel wider crime in our communities and have a toxic effect on people’s lives.”
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