A Leeds man is charged with importing £1 million of cannabis

45 year old Nathaniel Benson was arrested at Heathrow Airport

Author: Lynsey BagnallPublished 20th Sep 2024
Last updated 20th Sep 2024

A man from Leeds has been charged with drug smuggling offences by the National Crime Agency after five suitcases packed with cannabis were found at Heathrow Airport.

Nathaniel Benson, 45, arrived into the airport on Wednesday 18 September, having flown from Bangkok in Thailand.

He was arrested after Border Force officers located 160 packages in the suitcases.

His two children were travelling with him, and one bag had been checked in under one of their names.

In total more than 100 kilos of cannabis was recovered, which would have had a street value of around £1 million if sold on the streets in the UK.

After being interviewed by NCA investigators Benson was charged with importing class B drugs.

He was due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates Court today (20 September).

A 41-year-old woman from Harrogate, who was travelling with him, was also arrested but later bailed.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.