Luke Wood has now been jailed
19:14, 11 Nov 2025Updated 19:19, 11 Nov 2025
Wood was detained after arriving at Manchester Airport from Thailand(Image: Manchester Airport)
A ketamine addict tried to smuggle tens of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis through Manchester Airport in order to wipe his drug debt, a court heard.
Luke Wood, 29, was stopped at around 1.15pm on October 11 after landing on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, via Doha.
Immigration officials asked to see inside his suitcase, but he refused to give them the code to unlock it.
He told them, ‘you’re not making it easy for me, so I’m not making it easy for you’ Abigail Holmes, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court.
Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE
As officers broke into his bag, he then said, ‘I may as well tell you the bag is full of cannabis, I was forced to do it.’ Inside, 20kg of cannabis was found in 36 separate packages, with a value of £61,350, the court was told.
After being arrested, he told officers in a prepared statement that ‘arrangements were made by others, to who I owe a substantial debt.’ I was left with no choice’ he said as he claimed he was told if he didn’t do it his ‘family’s lives were at risk.’ The prosecution accepted he was put under ‘pressure’ to import the drugs, Ms Holmes said.
Wood, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug. The court heard he has 17 previous convictions for 26 offences.
“The drug debt arises out of his Ketamine addiction” Adam Roxborough, defending, said. “If it is not addressed, he will still be prey for those who supply that drug.”
‘Events in his youth’ had proved traumatic for him, but Wood wanted to kick his addiction ‘for his daughter’s sake’ Mr Roxborough said
Despite pleas to suspend the sentence so he could receive drug treatment, Recorder Andrew Vinson sent him straight to prison, jailing him for a year.
He said although Wood performed a ‘limited function’ in the enterprise, it was a ‘significant amount’ of drugs. He said the fact Wood was on bail for another alleged drugs offence at the time was also a ‘serious aggravating factor.’