Man caught with £200,000 cannabis haul at airport claims he was paid by Scottish man in Thailand

A man caught with £200,000 of cannabis at Edinburgh Airport claimed he was paid by a Scottish man in Thailand.

Robin Wild, 26, was caught with the drugs in a suitcase by Border Force agents on June 16 last year.

Wild, of Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, stated that he was put up to it by a man called Tom whom he met while on holiday.

He added that he tried to board a plane from Thailand to the UK three days prior, but had been stopped and the drugs seized.

Wild claimed that Tom later grabbed his arm, paid him more money and gave him further drugs to transport to Edinburgh.

Wild pleaded guilty on Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

He also admitted being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation of controlled drugs.

The court heard that Wild had travelled from Thailand to Edinburgh via Doha in Qatar.

He was stopped at Edinburgh Airport by Border Force agents around 7.30am.

An X-ray of his suitcase had revealed “organic material” inside, which was believed to be cannabis.

Before a full search of the case was carried out, Wild said: “I just want to let you know, I have no idea what’s in that case.”

Prosecutor Caroline McBride told the court that a total of 40 vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis were found inside.

She stated that the street value of the drugs recovered was £200,000.

Wild was interviewed by police and answered all the questions put to him.

Ms McBride said: “He told officers that he travelled alone to Thailand and met a Scottish man called Tom.

“He said they met a few times in coffee shops.

“He said he was asked to bring a case back to Scotland, and he claimed he did not know what was in it.

“Mr Wild claimed he was due to fly to Edinburgh on June 13, but he was stopped by the Thai authorities, and the case was seized, but he was allowed to continue his holiday.

“He told Tom the case was seized, which annoyed him, so he grabbed him by his arm.”

Wild claimed that Tom then gave him another suitcase and paid him £4,000, which was double the £2,000 he was paid for the first attempt.

The advocate depute added that Wild did know what was inside the suitcase.

It was revealed that Wild, who was employed as a chef, has previous convictions for violence, domestic abuse and public disorder.

Sentence was deferred on Wild pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Glasgow by Judge Lord Cubie.

The judge said: “You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence which is rightly prosecuted at the High Court which was an attempted importation of controlled drugs with a six-figure value at least.

“You knowingly tried to bring drugs to the UK purely for your selfish financial gain.

“The sentence is recognised as one of imprisonment and in all circumstances, I will continue bail for you to put your affairs in order.

“This is not an indication of the ultimate sentence.”