The number of tourists arrested for bringing cannabis back from their trips to Thailand is increasing dramatically.
Tourists should ensure that they do not have any illicit products in their luggage when returning to the country.
Following a significant increase in the number of arrests, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned travellers to the UK:
"Any attempt to bring cannabis into the country could land them in prison."
According to the British Embassy in Bangkok, 378 air passengers were arrested for cannabis smuggling.
An estimated 15 tonnes of drugs have been detected and seized at UK airports since the start of the year.
This amount is approximately three times higher than in 2023, when approximately five tonnes of cannabis were seized and 136 people arrested.
Of the total arrests made this year, 184 cases were reported for cannabis originating from Thailand, 75 for cannabis originating from Canada and 47 for cannabis originating from the United States.
Drugs are legal to varying degrees in all three countries.
People who enter the UK with drugs as couriers face up to 14 years in prison, according to the NCA.
This year, 196 people have already been sentenced to terms totaling nearly 188 years.
According to NCA experts, this trend is fueled by organized criminal gangs who have access to cannabis grown abroad in places where it is legal.
These organizations recruit smugglers to transport drugs to the United Kingdom.
The NCA continues to work with its partners in the UK and abroad to target high-risk routes.
It would be interesting to have a global report on the number of people arrested with cannabis after their trips to Thailand.
See also:
Brazilian tourist arrested in Bali with cannabis from Thailand
Tourists from Thailand arrested in Malaysia after testing positive for marijuana
Shock in Thailand: Tourist exposes himself naked in a cannabis shop in Phuket
Thailand: Politics and Profits Block Cannabis Recriminalization
Source: Bangkok Post
Prepare your trip to Thailand
Book bus, train, or boat in Thailand
Manage your money while traveling with Wise
If our news, tourist information, or cultural content has been useful to you and you'd like to thank us:
You can follow us on:
Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google News
Or install our app:
Install the Toute la Thaïlande app on your smartphone
⚠️ Cryptocurrencies involve risks: Invest only what you are willing to lose.
1 comment
A world of drug addicts at all levels, especially political ones.
Personally, when I come back from Thailand, I just take balms and souvenirs.