Newcastle Airport passenger jailed after trying to smuggle £87,000-worth of cannabis into UK
Alex Chee Hau Tang had been onboard a flight from Malaysia when he was found to have the illegal hoard in his suitcase
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA plane passenger has been locked up after he was caught smuggling £87,000-worth a of cannabis into the North East.
Alex Chee Hau Tang arrived into Newcastle International Airport, having travelled from Malaysia, via Dubai, and immediately aroused the suspicions of a Border Force official. A court heard that the 31-year-old dad was watched as he took his luggage from the baggage carousel before being stopped as he walked through the "nothing to declare" area and his suitcase was searched.
Inside, officers found 21.98kg of cannabis, which has an estimated value of £87,920. Tang, of no fixed abode, was arrested and pleaded guilty to being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of goods. He was locked up for 20 months.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Tang landed in Newcastle Airport at around 1.20pm on June 6 this year under the pretence that he was coming for a "five-day holiday". He immediately came to the attention of an officer, who watched him go into the toilets then walk to the baggage carousel.
However, Tan appeared to notice he was being watched and returned to the toilets, before taking a suitcase from the carousel and going to leave. He was stopped at this point and the drugs were found, prosecutors said.
The court heard that Tang had already made two short visits to the UK in February and April this year, firstly flying into Heathrow and secondly into Manchester. Jonathan Pigford, defending, said Tang had agreed to take the suitcase after accumulating a gambling debt in his home country.
Mr Pigford added: "He was told by those directing him that the trip he did to Manchester with the drugs would settle that debt. He was then told that that was not sufficient, hence the next trip to Newcastle. If your honour accepts that, there is a degree of exploitation."
Jailing Tang, Judge Amanda Rippon said: "Yours is a significant role because it's clear from the evidence that you must have had some understanding of the scale of the operation. I say that because you were bringing the drugs into the UK via an aeroplane, it's a considerable distance and you knew the weight and size of the suitcase by way of you carrying it.
"The approximate wholesale value of the drugs makes this a very valuable cargo. There were previous trips where your behaviour was as in this trip."
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