A 20-year-old British man has died in Dubai after swallowing packages of cocaine that burst in his stomach during an international flight, leading to charges against four people accused of orchestrating the smuggling operation.

Jensen Westhead, from Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, ingested multiple packages containing the Class A drug at a Manchester hotel on December 2, 2024, before boarding a flight to the United Arab Emirates. He arrived in Dubai on December 3, but tragically, at least one package ruptured in his stomach, causing a fatal overdose.

The young man was discovered dead at the Hotel Avalon in Dubai the following day, December 4.

Following what Lancashire Police described as a “complex investigation,” four individuals have now been charged in connection with his death. Rebecca Hatch, 43, Glenn Hatch, 50, Alexander Tofton, 32, and Steven Stephenson, 36, face charges of conspiracy to fraudulently evade the prohibition on exportation of a Class A drug between November 21 and December 4, 2024.

Stephenson faces an additional charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

All four defendants are scheduled to appear before Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 31.

The case highlights the extreme dangers of internal drug smuggling, a method known as “body packing,” which carries significant risks of fatal overdose if packages leak or rupture inside the carrier’s body. The practice remains a serious concern for international law enforcement agencies working to combat drug trafficking.

Lancashire Police have not released further details about the investigation as the case proceeds through the courts.