Thailand Poker Debt Leads to £60k Drug Smuggling Attempt at Manchester Airport

A man who tried smuggling £60k ($81k) worth of drugs into the UK after racking up debt playing poker in Thailand got a suspended sentence.

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2025 December 24 . 10:02 AM

1 min read

In this image I can see many drugs which are placed on the floor.

Thailand Poker Debt Leads to £60k Drug Smuggling Attempt at Manchester Airport

A man has avoided immediate prison time after attempting to smuggle over 20kg of cannabis into the UK. Archie Payne was caught at Manchester Airport with two suitcases packed with the drug, valued at £60,000 wholesale. He later claimed he had no idea the bags contained anything illegal.

Payne was arrested at Manchester Airport after border officers discovered the cannabis hidden in his luggage. The drugs had an estimated wholesale value of £60,000, equivalent to around $80,884. Following his arrest, he spent two months in custody before appearing in court.

During sentencing, Payne argued that he genuinely believed the suitcases contained cigarettes rather than cannabis. The court accepted his claim as a mitigating factor. Instead of a custodial term, he received a 22-month suspended prison sentence. As part of his punishment, Payne must now complete a drug rehabilitation programme. He has also been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service.

The suspended sentence means Payne will only face prison if he commits another offence within the next two years. His case highlights the legal consequences of drug smuggling, even when the defendant claims ignorance. The court’s decision includes mandatory rehab and community work as conditions for avoiding jail time.