A British man was sentenced to more than nine years in prison in Turkey after being found with a large quantity of cannabis at Istanbul airport. Taylor Johnson, 20, from Wednesbury, West Midlands, was arrested in April when customs officers, prompted by a sniffer dog, discovered approximately £280,000 worth of cannabis concealed in a suitcase. Johnson was returning to the United Kingdom from Thailand with his girlfriend at the time of the arrest.

During the court proceedings, Johnson, who is currently unemployed, claimed he had agreed to transport the suitcase for an individual in the UK who allegedly threatened him following a car accident. He maintained that he was unaware of the drugs inside the bag. The Turkish court ultimately sentenced Johnson to nine years and two months in prison.

Johnson’s girlfriend, Holly Cooper, also 20, was detained but was cleared of any involvement and was permitted to return to her home in Coseley earlier in June. Legal representatives for Johnson are pursuing efforts to have him transferred to a UK prison to serve his sentence. Bilgehan Berk, a member of Johnson’s legal team, described the outcome as "very positive," noting the large quantity of cannabis—approximately 19 kilograms—was a significant factor in the case.

A family associate expressed relief over Cooper’s acquittal, stating that she had no knowledge of the contents of the suitcase. The friend also emphasized the family’s desire for Johnson to be repatriated to the UK so he can serve his sentence closer to home and move past the incident.

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that it is providing consular support to Johnson following his conviction.