A notorious drug smuggler has openly challenged UK authorities, stating that he expects the majority of his drug couriers to be apprehended, even as the UK Border Force reports unprecedented seizures of cannabis. This brazen admission highlights the scale of the illicit trade in 'Cali weed', high-potency cannabis strains grown overseas to mimic legally produced products from the United States, which are now flooding the UK market.
According to figures from the Home Office, the Border Force last year intercepted more than 167,000 kilograms of herbal cannabis, marking the highest amount ever recorded. This represents a substantial 52% increase from 2024 and carries an estimated street value of over £2 billion. The enormous haul, equivalent to the weight of two fully loaded large passenger jets, included 28 tonnes of cannabis transported in suitcases by approximately 800 couriers who were subsequently arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The BBC investigation uncovered how suppliers are operating industrial-scale cannabis cultivation in countries where laws governing its production have been relaxed, such as Thailand, Canada, and parts of the US. These operations are generating vast profits by illegally importing multi-kilogram consignments into the UK. The Class B drug is brought in by 'mules', sent via post, or concealed within legitimate cargo, before being distributed to mid-level dealers who target young users through social media and encrypted messaging apps with attractively packaged 'Cali packs' bearing names like 'Gelato' and 'Cali Cookies'.
One trafficker, identified as 'Zee', disclosed details of his operations to the BBC, explaining how he recruits Vietnamese farmers to cultivate the drug on Thai islands before smuggling it into major UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, and parts of Yorkshire. 'Zee' claimed to source seeds from a respected Californian dispensary, where they are legal to purchase but illegal to export, to create the illusion of authenticity. He also stated that he pays his farmers approximately £100 for ten days' work, denying exploitation and asserting a low staff turnover to maintain high profits.
The NCA has observed a significant rise in profit-driven criminal organisations importing cannabis from abroad, exploiting differing international laws on its production. This surge is causing serious concern among health experts, who are linking the 'dangerous levels' of THC – the psychoactive compound in cannabis – to an increase in cases of psychosis. Dr Marta di Forti, a psychiatrist who led the UK's largest study on cannabis and psychosis, expressed deep worry about the current potency of cannabis available on the streets.
Police sources indicate that the North West of England has become the primary distribution hub for both overseas and domestically grown cannabis. Home Office data supports this, showing the region had the highest number of police seizures outside London. Specifically, Merseyside recorded a higher detection rate per head of population than any other part of England or Wales in the year leading up to March, with four out of five cannabis seizures at UK airports originating from Thailand, where legalisation in 2022 created a burgeoning market attractive to British drug syndicates.
Source: BBC