A TRANENT man flying out to join his step-mum and dad on holiday has found himself in a Greek prison over an empty cannabis grinder found in his bag almost a year ago.

Conor Howard was heading out to Roda, on the island of Corfu, to join Robert and Adele Young on holiday.

However, when he landed at the island’s airport, he was told there was an international arrest warrant out for him from the Qatari government.

The 27-year-old had stopped off in Qatar last October when he was returning from working in Australia as a project manager.

His step-sister, Lauren Young, said that the whole situation had come as a horrible “shock”.

She said: “He used to work in Australia and he was on his way home and bringing a cannabis grinder as a gift for a friend.

“It had been used once or twice and had been cleaned out.

“He stopped off in Qatar and it was spotted and they dealt with it.

“It was dealt with within a matter of hours and he was sent home and we thought it was done and dusted.

“Nothing happened, there was nothing coming back about it.

“My dad and his wife went out on holiday to Greece and Conor was going to join them and was lifted with an international warrant for drug trafficking.”

Now, Conor’s friend Kyle Williams has launched an online appeal to raise £10,000 to help cover legal costs.

Already, more than £9,400 has been raised on the page, called ‘Free Conor Howard’.

The GoFundMe page states: “Conor has been working in Cardiff and London and booked a week off work to go and visit his parents in Corfu.

“On Saturday, August 29, Conor was stopped at Greek customs whilst on his way to Corfu.

“Little did we know the Qatari government have issued an international arrest warrant for drug trafficking and since Saturday he has been moved from a holding cell to a Greek prison.

“Adele and Robert have paid through the nose for Greek lawyers who have been almost no help whatsoever.

“They are wanting to take Conor back to Qatar to face prosecution and possibly jail time.

“The next option we have, as friends and family, is to try and raise as much money as possible to help towards getting a Qatari lawyer and a translator in the case as we are running out of options.

“The embassy have been contacted numerous times and we are no further forward.

“There has been almost no contact with Conor since Saturday and it’s imperative we get him home before he is sent back to Qatar to face punishment for a crime he didn’t commit.”

Step-sister Lauren, who lives on Wallyford’s Albert Crescent, said contact had already been made with local politicians about the situation.

The mum-of-four added: “Conor is just your normal 27-year-old lad really.

“He is quite a bubbly person, into his fitness and things like that and likes going to the gym.”

To support Conor, go to gofundme.com/f/free-conor-howard