Thai authorities have arrested 13 foreigners at Samui Airport over four days for attempting to smuggle a total of 375kg of cannabis out of Thailand. The Bangkok Post reported that 12 of the suspects were bound for Singapore, while one was heading to Hong Kong. The cannabis, discovered in 22 bags, had an estimated street value of 75 million baht (US$2.2 million).
Investigations revealed that some of the suspects were not acting independently but had been recruited by drug traffickers. These individuals, posing as tourists, were promised payment or debt relief in exchange for smuggling the drugs out of Thailand. Their final destinations included Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
One of the most significant arrests occurred on March 16, when four British men—Antony, 63, Billy, 37, Philld, 63, and John, 34—were caught attempting to transport 131kg of dried cannabis buds hidden in eight suitcases. The men had been hired as couriers, with all expenses for their flights and hotel stays covered by an unidentified syndicate.
Upon arriving at Samui Airport from Bangkok, the suspects attempted to check in for their flight to Singapore. However, their plans fell apart when security personnel at the airport detected the cannabis in their luggage during the scanning process. In a desperate bid to escape, the four men fled the airport but were eventually caught and arrested. They now face charges of drug smuggling and violations of Thailand’s cannabis control laws.
According to Thai police, the British men were initially tasked with transporting the drugs to Singapore, where they would then be sent to other destinations. In exchange for successfully completing their mission, each courier was promised £2,000 (US$2,500) or, in some cases, full repayment of their debts.
This arrest follows an earlier operation where nine other foreigners were caught attempting to smuggle cannabis out of Thailand via Samui Airport. These individuals have already been sentenced to four months in prison.
Authorities are also investigating another possible link to the drug smuggling ring. A suitcase mistakenly taken by a Thai couple to Japan was found to contain 24kg of dried cannabis. The bag reportedly belonged to a 51-year-old British man who had arrived in Thailand on March 6. He left Surat Thani Airport on March 14 before departing for South Korea the following day.
The case highlights the increasing use of unsuspecting individuals as drug mules in international smuggling operations. Thai authorities continue to crack down on such activities, warning that drug-related offenses carry severe penalties under the country’s strict narcotics laws.
Comments
Post a Comment