Jordan Kane, aged 27, who was caught with more than £500,000 worth of cannabis at Birmingham Airport, has been spared an immediate prison sentence. The 'drug mule' was arrested after flying in from Thailand when an X-ray revealed 17 packages of the class B drug in his luggage.
Kane initially denied knowing what was inside his bag but later confessed he had packed it himself. He refused to reveal who had ordered him to smuggle the cannabis into the country, citing fear of repercussions, Birmingham Crown Court heard on Friday, August 14.
Court Hearing and Sentence
Kane, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug. Having served a period in jail on remand, he was sentenced to a 21-month suspended sentence with an order to complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
Judge Roderick Henderson concluded Kane had likely 'got the message' already, without the need for further imprisonment. The court heard that Kane had flown into Birmingham Airport on April 24 this year.
Details of the Arrest
Prosecutor James Green said: "A customs officer on duty at approximately 1.25pm stopped Mr Kane following an X-ray scan of his baggage. He was transiting the green channel indicating he had nothing to declare."
"When they spoke to him he stated he had travelled from Thailand. He confirmed it was his luggage. At the time he said he didn't know what was in the bag. But he later stated he did pack it himself and it had cannabis in."
There were a total of 17 packages containing more than 18 kilograms of cannabis in total. It was estimated it had a 'street value' of more than £500,000. Kane had never previously been convicted of a crime.
Defence and Background
Simon Hanns, defending, told the court he had a 'difficult upbringing' and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He said: "He was involved by coercion or pressure. He is not willing to say from who as the repercussions would be worse than appearing in a criminal court."
"He was the archetypical drug mule. He was ordered to carry them by someone else and foolishly agreed. He prevaricated briefly but then swiftly admitted what he was doing."
The sentence reflects the court's view that Kane had already learned his lesson, with the suspended sentence and rehabilitation order serving as a final chance to avoid further offending.
