Influencer faces jail after smuggling £150k of cannabis into Edinburgh Airport Alexander Lawrie
An Influencer is facing jail after attempting to smuggle more than £150,000 of cannabis through Edinburgh Airport.
Ellie Crampsie was found to have over 17 kilos of the Class B drug hidden in her luggage as she traveled home from an exotic holiday in Thailand last year.
Crampsie was arrested at the airport, and she pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of cannabis to others when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 26.
Crampsie, from Broomhouse, Glasgow, is a well-known social media personality and influencer and is prominent in the Glasgow nightlife and events scene where she promotes several brands.
The 23-year-old also runs her own beauty business called Brows by Ellie and specializes in styling and treatments.
Prosecutor Emma Laing told the court Crampsie had flown on an Air France flight to the Scottish capital from Thailand via Paris and was stopped by Border Force officers on April 16 last year.
Ms. Laing said: “She was asked the usual questions by the officer, and she confirmed she had traveled from Thailand.
“Her luggage was opened, and a number of vacuum packages were found inside.”
The court was told airport officials discovered 17 separate sealed packages containing 17.7kg of cannabis, with the total value of the drugs estimated at between £115,000 and £151,000.
Defense agent Mr. Hodge said his client was currently single and has “the benefit of the support of her parents who have attended court today.”
The lawyer asked for Crampsie’s bail to be continued while the social work report is prepared and described her previous criminal offending as “unremarkable in the context of this offense.”
Sheriff Graeme Watson said: “I’m going to adjourn sentencing in this case to allow the court to obtain a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty assessment.
“In the meantime, I am going to continue your bail conditions.
“That should be no prejudgment of what comes next, all sentencing options will be open to me on the next occasion, do you understand that?”
Crampsie pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of a controlled drug, namely cannabis, to another or others at Edinburgh Airport on April 16 last year.
Cases from Thailand made up almost half of the 39 smugglers who arrived at Scottish airports from across the globe between April and September last year, according to recent figures.
The National Crime Agency, Britain’s answer to the FBI, joined forces with Thai authorities in a joint operation to tackle the rise of cannabis smuggling to Scotland from Bangkok Airport, as we revealed earlier this month.
A total of 19 cannabis dealers heading for Scottish airports were among hundreds of UK-bound drug smugglers caught in a crackdown by both bodies.
Details of how crime fighters are tackling the well-worn cannabis smuggling route are contained within the NCA’s latest performance report for Scotland.
It notes Scotland is seeing “a higher level of disruptions linked to border referrals” through the work of the Organized Crime Partnership (OCP) – a collaboration with the NCA and Police Scotland.
Of the 40 suspects caught through what’s called ‘border referrals,’ 39 cases arrived directly to Scottish ports, with 19 originating in Thailand.
There were nine from the US and Canada, four from other European cities, six from the rest of the world, and two are described as “unknown.”
The Scottish stats are said to reflect the national trend, but the report adds, “this trend is much more pronounced for OCP Scotland.”
The report states: “Nineteen of all arrivals within border referrals to Scotland originate in Thailand.
“The NCA is working closely with Thai authorities to address this, and following a multi-agency intensification at Bangkok Airport earlier this year, Thai authorities have since intercepted 402 individuals carrying 10 tonnes of cannabis.”
Recent crooks caught flying in from Bangkok include ex-Aberdeen and Morton ace Jay Emmanuel Thomas – aka Jet – who was caught transporting an illegal haul worth £600,000.
We told how a 60kg stash of cannabis was hidden in suitcases and brought into the UK by his girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowski. She and companion Rosie Rowland were stopped by border officials at London Stansted Airport.
The forward, 35, of London, was arrested in Gourock, Renfrewshire, in September 2024 and subsequently sacked by the club before he was sentenced to four years.
Other examples include drug mule Jayne Sutcliffe, who was stopped with two shrink-wrapped suitcases stuffed with 110lb of cannabis, which could have fetched £436,000 when sold on.
Head of Investigations
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