Man arrested at Manchester Airport after reporting lost luggage containing £200k of opium

A drugs mule has been jailed for smuggling opium with a street value of £200k - after reporting his luggage missing.

Amir Rahnama, 43, admitted importing the class A drug, and said he had done so in a desperate bid to fund his wife's cancer treatment, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Rahnama's bag was mistakenly left behind in Dubai en route from Tehran.

On arrival at Manchester Airport, Rahnama reported it missing at the information desk. It was tracked down and flown to Terminal One, where Border Force officers and sniffer dogs found 15 tubs of hair cream containing nearly 10kg of opium.

Rahnama turned up to Manchester Airport to claim his bag, where officers arrested him.

He said he had bought the opium in Tehran and was intending to sell it in Bolton for £9,000.

He later admitted he had been acting as a mule for drug bosses.

According to the Daily Mail, Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, said: "He said he knew it was illegal and he was selling it to pay for medical care for his wife in Iran.

"I'm aware the defendant has now amended his statement to say that he was asked to carry the drugs."

Robert Mann, defending, said his client had been genuinely shocked to hear the drugs were worth up to £197,000 and admitted others may not have acted so "naively" in trying to claim the bag.

Rahnama was sentenced to six years in jail.

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