The decision to legalise cannabis in some US states is being blamed for a sudden surge in the smuggling of the drug in Britain, with users clamouring to buy marijuana grown in California.
Powerful strains of class B are currently flooding into the UK with customs officials seizing almost half a ton of the drug at Heathrow airport during one 10-day period last month.
Customs stopped 13 passengers arriving in Britain on flights from Los Angeles’ LAX airport allegedly carrying large quantities of “weed” in their luggage.
One 27-year-old man is accused of having 47kg of cannabis in his suitcases, more than twice the maximum luggage allowance permitted on a commercial flight.
Another female passenger, who was stopped at Heathrow on Jan 13, was allegedly found with 40kg of the drug stashed in her luggage.
The oldest of those arrested was 48, the youngest 23, and while they are from different parts of the United States, they all flew into the UK on the same route from Los Angeles.
They have all been charged with attempting to import a Class B drug and have been remanded into custody ahead of a court appearance later this month.
Extra potency of drug
But the seizures and arrests have raised questions about why American grown cannabis is suddenly crossing the Atlantic in such large quantities and whether Britain is suffering the fallout from California’s decision to legalise so-called soft drugs.
Marijuana for recreational use has been legal in the…
