A British transgender woman has been jailed in the UK after being caught smuggling cannabis from Bangkok, Thailand, highlighting the growing risks of drug trafficking between the two countries.
Keira Borrett, 46, from Norfolk, was stopped at London Heathrow Airport on May 23 when Border Force officers discovered 26 kilograms of cannabis in two suitcases. The drugs, which had been packed in vacuum-sealed parcels, carried a street value of around £800,000 (approximately 36 million baht).
Bangkok Deal for Cannabis Smuggling
Court hearings revealed that Borrett had agreed to transport the cannabis from Bangkok to the UK in exchange for £10,000. The money was intended to fund gender-affirming surgery.
While in a Bangkok bar, Borrett reportedly met a man from Essex, UK, who introduced her to accomplices. Two men later delivered heavy suitcases, which Borrett checked in under her name before boarding a flight back to London. She was told to deliver the bags to a hotel on arrival in exchange for payment.
Instead, routine checks at Heathrow Airport exposed the cannabis haul, leading to her immediate arrest.
Sentenced in London Court
At Isleworth Crown Court in west London, prosecutors argued Borrett knowingly took part in the drug trafficking scheme and was motivated by financial reward. She pleaded guilty to importing cannabis, classified as a Class B drug in the UK.
Borrett has been on remand for three months at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, a men’s prison, where her lawyer said she was forced to “detransition.” The defense described the smuggling as a single lapse of judgment, but the judge pointed out that Borrett had made multiple recent trips to Thailand, undermining her claim of acting impulsively.
Recorder Kate Aubrey-Johnson sentenced Borrett to 18 months in prison, stressing that drug smuggling from Thailand to the UK is on the rise and requires a strong deterrent.
Thailand Cannabis Laws and UK Risks
Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, leading to a boom in cannabis shops across Bangkok, Pattaya, and other cities. However, while cannabis is widely available in Thailand, it remains illegal to take it across international borders.
In the UK, cannabis is strictly a Class B drug. Offences such as trafficking or possession with intent to supply can result in heavy fines and prison sentences.
According to the UK’s National Crime Agency, there has been an increase in cannabis trafficking from Thailand since decriminalisation. Alex Murray, the agency’s director of threat leadership, warned:
“Couriers should think very carefully about smuggling cannabis. The risk of being caught is extremely high, and the consequences are life-changing.”
Conclusion
For expats and tourists in Thailand, this case is a reminder that while cannabis is openly sold in Bangkok and other cities, transporting it abroad is a serious crime. Smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the UK can lead to lengthy prison sentences, regardless of personal circumstances.
