A drugs mule enlisted to bring cannabis into the UK claimed he was told the package contained a rare bird’s nest, a court heard.

Quek Heng, who flew from Hong Kong, via Malaysia, was detained on arrival on an overseas flight at Newcastle International Airport, in early June.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Border Force officers detained him after his case was scanned.

It was found to contain a vacuum-filled pack containing more than 21 kilograms of cannabis.

The 33-year-old defendant, of no fixed address in this country, has been detained in custody since his arrest.

(Image: The Northern Echo) He admitted a single drugs importation charge at a plea hearing on August 29.

Brian Hegarty, representing Heng, told the sentencing hearing on Friday (November 14) that the defendant travelled across a number of jurisdictions to bring the cannabis to this country.

Referring to a probation report prepared for the hearing, Mr Hegarty told Judge Carolyn Scott: “You will have read how he was prevailed upon and initially told he was transporting an item.

“When he got to Hong Kong he was told it was a rare bird’s nest.

“He suspected that the suitcase, in fact, contained prohibited drugs.

“It was with a sense of relief that he learned it was cannabis and not a category A drug.

“There’s no suggestion he’s anything other than a courier and nothing to suggest he was aware of the scale of the operation.

“He had never been to the UK before and was to be in Newcastle for a short period of time.

“He was given the modest sum of £300 for his endeavours.

“This is a man who has made a terrible error.”

(Image: The Northern Echo) Mr Hegarty said the father-of-two is the sole bread winner in his family and earns a “relatively modest” sum of £700-a-month as an electrician.

“He became involved in this enterprise and was arrested at Newcastle Airport.

“He’s been in prison since early June this year and is desperate to return home.

“There is a role for couriers in this enterprise and they take the real risk.

“He wants me to apologise for the fact he became involved in this enterprise.

“I’m told he has a strict disapproving attitude to drugs.”

(Image: The Northern Echo) Judge Scott told Heng: “Border Force officers X-rayed a suitcase belonging to you on arrival at Newcastle Airport, and it contained what was suspected to be cannabis.

“You said you travelled from Penang in Malaysia and when told the suitcase contained cannabis you made no replies to initial questions.

“I’m satisfied you played a significant role.

“You must have had an awareness of the scale of the operation.

“You had just over 21-kilos of cannabis upon you.

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“It’s said in mitigation you are someone with no previous convictions or cautions and therefore I can make a downward adjustment on the sentence which would have been 18 months in prison.”

Imposing a 14-month prison sentence Judge Scott told the defendant he is likely to be deported once he serves up to half of the sentence.

She also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the seized cannabis.