A British national faces a prison sentence exceeding ten years after being caught with a large quantity of cannabis at Istanbul airport. Taylor Johnson, 21, from Wednesbury, West Midlands, was stopped while returning to the United Kingdom from a holiday in Thailand with his girlfriend, Holly Cooper. Turkish authorities found 19.2 kilograms of cannabis concealed in 17 vacuum-sealed bags inside Johnson’s suitcase. The street value of the seized drugs has been estimated at approximately £280,000.

Johnson has told investigators that he was coerced into transporting the drugs. He was remanded in custody by a Turkish court last week, with officials indicating that he could face a lengthy prison term if convicted.

Cooper, also 21, was released after a judge determined that she was not aware of the presence of the drugs. She has since returned to the UK. The case remains under judicial review as Turkish authorities continue their investigation.