A British man in his twenties faces a 36-month prison sentence for alleged drug smuggling after being arrested with 34 kilograms of cannabis at Brussels Airport in January.
The young man arrived at Brussels Airport on 27 January from Bangkok, Thailand, where customs officials discovered 63 packages of organic material in his luggage, later identified as cannabis weighing a total of 34 kilograms.
Halle-Vilvoorde prosecutors noted that Thailand’s legalisation of cannabis has led to a new smuggling route. "He is just one in a string of offenders."
"During questioning, he invoked his right to remain silent, only mentioning financial difficulties. However, his mobile phone contained encrypted messages instructing him to travel to Schoten to deliver the cannabis," the prosecutors. "We also found photos of him with associates on a cannabis farm."
Prosecutors argued that the transportation was organised by a criminal gang, warranting a 36-month prison term.
In his defence, the man’s lawyer explained, "My client grew up in a working-class family in a tough London neighbourhood. He did not finish school and fell in with the wrong crowd. They offered him a substantial sum to undertake this transport, and he was naive enough to be tempted. We are requesting a suspended sentence."
The verdict is expected on 22 May.
