Incident Overview: A drug mule named Dean Pharoah attempted to smuggle cannabis through Manchester Airport after returning from a holiday in Thailand. He was caught by Border Force officers and subsequently jailed.

Date and Location: The incident took place on August 28, when Pharoah arrived at Manchester Airport from Thailand via Dubai after a nine-day trip.

Arrest Details: Border Force officers approached Pharoah as he passed through the 'nothing to declare' channel. He had two large suitcases and a smaller one, claiming they belonged to a friend and professing ignorance about their contents.

Discovery of Drugs: Officers were able to unlock the suitcases using the code '000' and found 53.65 kilos of cannabis valued at £214,600 at wholesale level.

Admission of Guilt: Upon the discovery, Pharoah remarked, "It’s cannabis, isn’t it?" He later informed the police that he had been offered money to smuggle drugs back into the UK and expected to receive £10,000 for his efforts.

Background Information: Pharoah, a 28-year-old with no fixed address, initially denied having a drug debt but admitted to owing his mother money. He also claimed to be a drug user and mentioned feeling 'under some pressure' to commit the crime.

Legal Proceedings: Pharoah pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug. His defense attorney, Shila Whitehead, noted that he had provided a 'full and frank account' to the police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Sentencing: During sentencing, Judge John Potter stated that individuals involved in importing commercial quantities of cannabis should expect incarceration. He acknowledged Pharoah's debts as a potential motive for his involvement in drug smuggling and sentenced him to 26 months in prison.