A 22-year-old British man has been sentenced to 40 months in prison by the Brussels Criminal Court after attempting to smuggle 56 kilograms of cannabis into Belgium. The drugs were discovered hidden in his suitcases upon arrival at Brussels Airport in late March.
The young man, who had travelled from Bangkok, Thailand, was stopped during a routine customs inspection. Officers uncovered the large haul of cannabis concealed in his luggage, immediately triggering a criminal investigation.
According to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the man initially claimed he had no knowledge of the drugs, insisting that a friend had asked him to transport the suitcases.
“I have been travelling around Thailand for ten days,” he reportedly told police. “A friend asked me to bring those suitcases home because they were left behind in Thailand during a previous trip he’d made.”
Despite his denial, evidence retrieved from his mobile phone contradicted his version of events. Investigators discovered conversations that directly linked him to the transport of the narcotics, leaving little room for doubt about his involvement.
‘Naive and financially precarious’
In court, the defence acknowledged his role but argued that the 22-year-old acted out of naivety and desperation. His lawyer explained that he lived in Liverpool with his mother and two brothers, working two jobs yet still struggling financially.
When offered the opportunity to earn €5,000 quickly by transporting the suitcases, he accepted without fully considering the risks.
“My client is fully aware of his mistake,” the lawyer told the court. “He was naive and motivated by financial hardship. He hoped for €5,000 but now faces severe consequences.”
The Prosecutor’s Office, however, stressed the seriousness of the crime, highlighting the substantial quantity of cannabis involved and the clear evidence contradicting his initial claims.
With 56 kilograms in his possession, the court determined that his actions constituted a deliberate and organized attempt to smuggle drugs into Belgium.
Court’s decision
Considering the scale of the smuggling attempt and the evidence presented, the Brussels Criminal Court aligned with the prosecution’s request and sentenced the man to 40 months in prison.
The ruling underscores Belgium’s tough stance on drug trafficking, especially at its main international gateway, Brussels Airport, where customs officers have stepped up vigilance in recent years against smuggling operations from Asia and beyond.
For the young British man, what may have seemed like a quick financial gain has now turned into a prison term of more than three years, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting entangled in international drug trafficking.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
