Henry Nowak protestor jailed for smuggling over £500k of cannabis

A man convicted for his role in protests over Henry Nowak’s death has has been jailed after smuggling up to £600,000 worth of cannabis into the UK from Thailand.

Noah Barker, 19, of Derby Road in Southampton, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at Southampton Crown Court on 4 September, violent disorder during the protests on June 2 and drug smuggling.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport on July 10 after arriving from Bangkok in relation to violent disorder.

Border Force officers inspected his luggage, discovering 41 packages containing more than 20kg of cannabis.

When questioned about the contents, Barker told officers: “It is cannabis.”

A subsequent investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed that Barker had been recruited by a criminal group via Snapchat.

He told investigators he was offered a free holiday and payment to transport the suitcases but ultimately received no money.

Barker admitted he knew the bags contained either cannabis or cocaine.

He pleaded guilty to both drug smuggling and violent disorder.

The violent disorder charge stemmed from an incident in Southampton following the Henry Nowak protests on June 2.

Mark Abbott, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “Like other cannabis smugglers, Barker was motivated by money.

“He knew he was doing something illegal and fraught with danger but did it anyway.

“As well as a life-changing criminal conviction, couriers’ future career and travel prospects can be wrecked by smuggling drugs.

“We will continue to work with partners at Border Force and in Thailand to combat the smuggling of cannabis to the UK.”

Barker received two years and four months in prison for violent disorder and 16 months for drug smuggling.

The NCA has launched a social media campaign aimed at deterring individuals from smuggling cannabis on behalf of criminal groups.

In July, Thai authorities introduced new penalties for drug couriers caught smuggling cannabis.

Offenders now face fines of approximately £680 per kilogram, with the average smuggler carrying 26kg, amounting to a fine of nearly £18,000.

Those unable to pay face up to two years in a Thai prison.

Daily Echo