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A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to orchestrate the importation of 60kg (132lb) of cannabis through Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old was detained by National Crime Agency officers (NCA) just after 08:00 BST on Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde as part of an operation carried out by Police Scotland. He was taken to Carlisle for questioning.

The seizure of about £600,000 of the drug came after two women were arrested on 2 September at Stansted after being found with two suitcases containing 60kg of cannabis on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

They were charged with drug importation offences and bailed to appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 October.

The NCA's senior investigating officer, David Phillips, said anyone considering the crime should stop to think about the potential "life-changing risks" they would be taking.

The agency added that the amount of cannabis seized so far in 2024 is already over three times the total in 2023.

In August, the NCA warned travellers entering the UK from Thailand, Canada and the United States they face jail sentences if caught attempting to bring cannabis into the country, after seeing an increase in arrests.

The maximum sentence for cannabis importation in the UK is up to 14 years in prison.

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