Bernard Kenny has been jailed after what officers discovered in his luggage
A man found with up to £144,000 worth of cannabis at Manchester Airport told Border Force officers he ‘ran out of money’ while holidaying in Thailand. Bernard Kennedy, of Grizedale in Widnes, travelled from Bangkok to Manchester via Dubai on March 20, but was left waiting when his luggage was delayed.
When his suitcases arrived, officers found 48 kilos of vacuum-wrapped cannabis. They later brought the empty suitcases back to Kennedy, who confirmed they were his.
The 46-year-old was subsequently arrested, charged and has since pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Kennedy later told officers that he had run out of cash when he was abroad, and said he was approached by others who promised he would get a considerable figure for taking the suitcases back to Manchester.
However, sentencing judge Recorder Jeremy Lasker told Manchester Crown Court: “I don’t accept he ran out of money over there and by chance somebody helped him out and said ‘take this back with you’. He made similar trips in November, December, January, February and March.”
His barrister, Huw Edwards, said Kennedy was in a relationship which required him to go to the country so often, and that he had been charged with just one offence. He said: “He is extremely remorseful for his involvement.
“In reality, the courts are well versed in people who bring drugs into the country. They are never the main authors. They are, ultimately, drug mules. They take all the risk and obtain very little in reward.”
The court heard Kennedy had worked in a children’s home for 20 years, but had struggled with his mental health after his dad passed away.
Kennedy was jailed for two years. Recorder Lasker told him: “You clearly had some idea of the size of this importation if nothing but by the weight of those suitcases.”
Kennedy will serve half the term in prison before being released on licence.
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