Celebrity chef Gino D'Acambo was allegedly caught with cannabis at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. According to reports, police sniffer dogs detected the banned substance in his bags upon his arrival in the UK when accompanied by fellow celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and matre Fred Sirieix.
The celebrity chef, 46, was reportedly given a warning as he arrived back in Britain with Gordon Ramsay, 56, and Fred Sirieix, 51, being "pretty cross" with Gino, according to a source cited by The Sun.
It came just weeks before Gino quit the travel show, with Gino claiming he was leaving due to a row over "complicated" contracts.
The source said: "Gino and the gang had been filming in Spain, and flew back home on Gordon’s private jet. When they landed, out of nowhere sniffer dogs suddenly started circling Gino.
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"Gordon, Fred and Gino were all held for some time by Border Force, as Gino initially tried to laugh it off.
"Eventually, it was clear who the dogs were after, and Gino went away with uniformed police for questioning. It was Gino’s bags that were stopped and searched, and a small box with some weed inside was found.
"Neither Fred nor Gordon, nor anyone else on the jet, had a single trace of anything suspicious.'
The source added that Gino called Gordon and Fred the following day to explain he had been smoking it to help his bad back.
They added that Gino was released by police "without issue".
It is claimed Gordon and Fred were both angry about the situation, particularly as Gordon has always been vocal about his anti-drugs stance.
Gordon has been open about his younger brother Ronnie's troubles in the past after he became addicted to hard drugs.
ITV viewers previously saw Gino and Fred high on cannabis tea during their American road trip with Gordon.
The Italian chef and French maitre'd headed to San Francisco with their British counterpart in a 2020 episode of Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip.
Since legalising cannabis in 2016, the California city has been a hotspot for CBD and THC (cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol, respectively, which are both derived from the cannabis plant) infused food and drink creations.
The trio were keen to try out some of the dishes and headed to a restaurant where Gino tucked in enthusiastically and Fred appeared to have a sample, after a chef offered them tea and sandwiches with THC drops in them.
Gordon turned down the cannabis, telling Gino: "Slow down, you’ll be like a hot air balloon in a minute."
Earlier this month, Gino revealed he had quit his popular ITV show Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip after three series.
The chef said that he was leaving due to a row over "complicated" contracts.
The show saw the Italian TV favourite travel the globe with fellow foodies Gordon and Fred as they explored the local cuisine.
Gino said his friendships with his former colleagues had nothing to do with his exit with their "strong" bond meaning more to him than arguments over contracts.
He told his Instagram followers: "Last week I decided not to film any more Gordon, Gino and Fred Road trips. The reason is very simple – nothing to do with Gordon or Fred, the friendship is very strong."
He continued: "It's just because we can't get the dates together and sometimes when we do get the dates together sometimes they get changed and it causes a lot of problems for me because I have other stuff that I have to do.
"Personal problems as well because when I have to change things with my family it is very complicated and also because [of] contracts."
Gino went on to say: "Because contracts start to become very complicated and very stressful, I personally value the friendship with Gordon and Fred so much that I would rather the friendship than arguments with the contract."
"So I have decided not to do it anymore because I want to be friends with the boys for many, many years ahead."
An ITV spokesman said: 'A brand new series of Gordon, Gino & Fred's Road Trip in Spain will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX later this year' - having already been filmed.
The popular show first aired in 2018 with the trio travelling France and Italy, before heading to America in 2020 followed by a trip to Greece two years later.
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