A couple caught smuggling cannabis worth £200,000 through Belfast International Airport have been sentenced to 21 months in prison each. Jason Chah Kok Siong, 27, and Ho Wen Feng, 25, were apprehended after arriving from Malaga, Spain, with nearly 27 kilograms of the drug concealed in their luggage.
The incident occurred on December 13, 2024, when ground staff at the airport detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from a silver suitcase while unloading baggage. Alerted by the odor, they quickly contacted airport police and Border Force officers. The suspicious bag was discreetly placed on the baggage carousel to see who would claim it.
Both Siong and Feng were seen collecting the suitcase and attempting to leave the airport. They were immediately intercepted by authorities. Upon inspection, the suitcases were found to contain 52 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis, weighing a total of 26.7kg. The street value of the drugs was estimated at around £200,000.
During the investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the pair claimed they had been given the suitcases by a man they met in a hotel in Malaga. They insisted they believed the contents were edible birds' nests—a delicacy in some cultures—and denied any knowledge of the cannabis inside.
However, the evidence proved otherwise. Both were charged with possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply, possession of a Class B drug, and importing a controlled drug.
David Cunningham, NCA Branch Commander, commented on the convictions, saying, “These convictions should serve as a warning to would-be couriers — you could face life-changing consequences.” He emphasized the agency's continued efforts to prevent drugs from entering Northern Ireland and to dismantle the operations of organized crime groups.
“The gangs behind importations like these don’t concern themselves with the fate of the couriers they recruit like Siong and Feng,” Cunningham added. “They only care about the profits to be made from the drugs.”
The NCA continues to work closely with Border Force and international partners to combat the illegal drug trade and disrupt the criminal networks profiting from it. The agency hopes this case sends a clear message: drug smuggling is a serious crime with serious consequences.