The UK Home Office has warned young travellers to be cautious of offers of free holidays, luxury travel and other incentives from organized crime groups seeking to recruit drug couriers.
The advisory, issued by Border Force ahead of the peak summer travel season, follows a sharp increase in cannabis smuggling through UK airports and growing concerns that criminal networks are targeting inexperienced travellers through social media.
According to the Home Office, school leavers, university graduates, first-time travellers and holidaymakers are increasingly being approached with offers of all-expenses-paid trips, premium flights and spending money before being persuaded or coerced into transporting illegal drugs into the United Kingdom.
Official figures released by the agency show that the number of cannabis couriers intercepted at UK airports increased from 142 in 2023 to 976 in 2025.
Authorities also reported that 600 people were arrested during the first half of 2026 for attempting to bring cannabis into the UK through airports. Most of those detained were men aged between 18 and 37 arriving from Thailand.
Border Force said organized crime groups often exploit young people by promising luxury holidays and other financial benefits while concealing the legal risks associated with drug trafficking.
As part of a nationwide awareness campaign across UK airports, travellers are being advised to reject offers of free accommodation or travel, particularly to destinations where cannabis is legal or more easily accessible, including Thailand, Canada and parts of the United States.
The Home Office also urged travellers to check the contents of their luggage before departure, refuse requests to carry bags or packages for others, ignore suspicious approaches made through social media, and ensure they retain possession of their passports and travel documents throughout their journey.
Officials stressed that importing cannabis into the United Kingdom remains a criminal offence regardless of whether the drug is legal in the country from which a traveller departs.
Border Force safeguarding lead Kate Goldstone said organized crime groups profit from exploiting young people while leaving them to bear the legal consequences.
She warned that offers appearing too good to be true should be treated with suspicion, noting that a single decision could result in arrest, a criminal record, imprisonment and long-term consequences affecting employment, education and future international travel.
Under UK law, individuals convicted of importing cannabis can face prison sentences of up to 14 years.
The Home Office also reported a significant rise in cannabis seizures at UK airports, with the quantity intercepted increasing from 2.1 tonnes in 2022 to more than 28 tonnes in 2025. Border Force said airport seizures have risen by around 50 per cent over the past year.
While Thailand has emerged as one of the main departure points for cannabis couriers, authorities said criminal groups are also operating in Canada, the United States and several European countries where cannabis laws are less restrictive.
The warning comes as UK and Thai authorities continue joint efforts to combat cannabis smuggling between the two countries.
The Home Office urged anyone approached to transport drugs or suspected of being targeted by criminal recruiters to report the matter immediately to local law enforcement authorities, British consular officials or Crimestoppers.
