Young Brits heading abroad this summer are being warned not to risk their futures by being lured into accepting a ‘free holiday’.
Criminal gangs are using popular social media platforms to groom young people into smuggling cannabis into the UK.
Ahead of the peak summer holiday season, Border Force has shared its top 5 tips to avoid being ensnared by smugglers.
Seduced by the offer of free luxury holidays, business class flights and easy spending money, too many young Brits are falling into the trap of organised crime.
The number of cannabis smugglers caught arriving in the UK by plane has surged from 142 in 2023 to 976 in 2025.
And 2026 is on track to be even worse, with 600 air passenger couriers arrested at UK airports in the first 6 months alone – with men aged 18 to 37 travelling from Thailand making up the largest group of those arrested.
Criminal networks are specifically targeting school and university leavers, first-time travellers and those tempted by offers of cheap or free holidays from so-called friends, exploiting their inexperience and lack of awareness of the risks.
As part of a stepped-up awareness campaign across UK airports, Border Force officers are directly warning travellers about the warning signs of criminal exploitation ahead of the busy summer holiday season.
Border Force’s top 5 tips
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Refuse “free” holidays, flights or luxury accommodation, particularly to countries where cannabis is legal, such as Thailand, Canada, and parts of the United States. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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Know what’s in your bag. Never travel with a bag that is not yours, and if someone tells you not to look inside your luggage, treat it as a major warning sign. If drugs are found in your bag, even if you didn’t put them there, you could face arrest, prosecution, and a criminal record.
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Beware of social media approaches. Criminal gangs use platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram to target young people. Resist their approaches as it risks a lifetime of painful consequences. Delete and block.
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Keep hold of your passport and personal documents at all times. Criminal gangs may ask to take it from you, claiming it is part of a travel arrangement, but it can be a tactic to control and manipulate people, including checking in suitcases in their name. If someone wants to hold onto your passport for you, treat it as a serious red flag.
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Cannabis is not legal. Criminal gangs may try to convince you that because cannabis is legal where you are travelling, it is acceptable or low risk to bring it back to the UK. It is not. International drug smuggling is a serious criminal offence that can result in imprisonment at home and abroad.
Kate Goldstone, Border Force Lead Officer for Safeguarding, said
Organised criminal gangs are exploiting young people for profit – living it up while leaving their courier victims facing lifetime consequences.
Our message to young travellers is simple. If an offer feels too good to be true, it probably is.
A single decision made before a holiday could lead to a criminal record, a prison sentence and years of lost opportunities.
Border Force is warning that, regardless of how someone became involved, anyone caught smuggling cannabis could face arrest, prosecution, a criminal record, up to 14 years behind bars and restrictions on future travel, potentially damaging future employment, education, and life opportunities.
Border Force’s cannabis seizures are now at a record high, increasing by 50% in the last year. UK law enforcement seized 2.1 tonnes of cannabis from air passengers in 2022, rising to more than 28 tonnes in 2025.
While Thailand has been a particular focus, Border Force is warning that gangs can operate wherever cannabis is legal or more easily available, including countries such as Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe.
The warning comes as a joint UK-Thailand crackdown on cannabis smuggling comes into force, with Brits caught attempting to smuggle cannabis from Thailand facing average fines of around £17,700 or up to 2 years in prison.
Anyone approached about carrying cannabis or other illegal drugs should report it to local authorities, consular services, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
