Chef who tried to smuggle £200,000 of cannabis into Scotland hidden in suitcase jailed for three years

A chef who tried to smuggle £200,000 of cannabis into Scotland from Thailand has been jailed for three years.

Robin Wild was caught with the drug haul in a suitcase at Edinburgh Airport on June 16 last year.

The 26-year-old was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

He had earlier pled guilty to cannabis trafficking and a separate importation-related charge.

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

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

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 is 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.

Ms McBride said: “Wild 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, of Cambuslang, 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 has previous convictions for violence, domestic abuse and public disorder.

Lord Cubie told him: “You knowingly tried to bring drugs to the UK purely for your selfish financial gain.”