Young people offered cheap holidays to smuggle drugs by criminal gangs, Border Force warns
The UK Border Force has warned that criminal gangs are targeting young people through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, encouraging them to smuggle cannabis.
Home Office figures show the number of cannabis smugglers caught by plane at UK airports has risen from 142 in 2023 to 976 in 2025.
Already this year, 600 passengers traveling from Thailand, mostly men aged 18-31, have been caught.
Border Force believes these networks “specifically target” school and university leavers by offering cheap or free holidays.
Kate Goldstone, Border Force’s chief security officer, said: “Organized crime gangs are exploiting young people for profit, leaving their courier victims facing lifelong consequences.
“Our message to young travelers is simple: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
“A single decision made before the holidays can lead to a criminal record, prison time and years of lost opportunities.”
Border Force has published a list of tips to prevent this exploitation, including refusing free trips, flights or accommodation, particularly to countries where marijuana is legal, such as Thailand, Canada and the United States.
Holidaymakers were also warned not to travel with bags that do not belong to them and to be wary of approaches on social media.
Police have warned that anyone caught smuggling cannabis could face up to 14 years in prison and future travel restrictions.
They noted that cannabis seizures are at a record high, with UK law enforcement seizing more than 28 tonnes of cannabis from air passengers in 2025.
Earlier this year it was revealed that more than a quarter of a million drugs would be seized by police and Border Force officers in England and Wales in 2024/25.
The increase was driven by a sharp jump in seizures of class B drugs such as cannabis and ketamine; this includes 137 tonnes of herbal cannabis – the largest annual amount in history.
A total of 269,321 drug seizures were made in the 12 months to March 2025, according to figures published by the Home Office on Thursday.
That was a 24 percent increase from the previous year’s 217,633 and the most seizures since comparable data began in 1973.
Marijuana seizures were 194,682, up 28 percent compared to 149,459 annually; 173,215, up 29 percent from 134,570, mostly for herbal cannabis.
Anyone contacted about transporting cannabis or other illicit drugs is asked to report it to local authorities, consular services or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
