Five men have been arrested following the seizure of cannabis worth £5 million at Birmingham Airport. National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators and police apprehended the individuals, aged between 21 and 27, in Luton and London. The arrests are linked to a smuggling attempt in August, involving over half a tonne of cannabis flown into the UK from Thailand via Paris. Eleven passengers were initially detained and released on bail pending further investigations. The NCA has warned travellers arriving from countries where cannabis is legal that they face jail time if caught smuggling the drug into the UK. Cannabis seizures in the UK have tripled from 2023 to 2024, driven by organised crime groups seeking higher profits. These gangs exploit couriers for financial gain, with little regard for their safety or freedom.