Belgian Woman Held With 31kg Cannabis at Phuket Airport

I am wondering if there will a deep investigation as they do with the air hostess.. where comes the cannabis from who imported it in Thailand, is there another recipient?? etc etc

57 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

21-year-old Belgian woman has been arrested at Phuket International Airport after authorities allegedly found more than 31 kilograms

Stupid woman, Enjoy your prison time 😂

Are these people completely unaware of the risks of getting caught? Thai prisons are no joke.

22 minutes ago, temuFarang said:

Are these people completely unaware of the risks of getting caught? Thai prisons are no joke.

You have to wonder why someone would take such a stupid risk.

Maybe this isn't simply greed or stupidity....... coercion and threats could be the driving force.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A 21-year-old Belgian woman has been arrested at Phuket International Airport after authorities allegedly found more than 31 kilograms of cannabis concealed in her luggage as she prepared to leave Thailand.

GeographicReference

Get today's headlines by email

The arrest was made on 7 July at the international departures terminal of Phuket International Airport in Mai Khao, Thalang district, Phuket. Airport officials identified the suspect as Ms Salma El Khnati, a 21-year-old Belgian national.

Officers became suspicious of two suitcases, one green and white and the other black, both branded BLUE PLANET. A search uncovered 12 vacuum-sealed packages containing cannabis flower weighing a total of 28.3 kilograms, together with eight packages of processed cannabis weighing 3.4 kilograms. The total seized amounted to approximately 31.7 kilograms.

Discover more

Online community management

Travel & Transportation

According to officials, the suspect admitted that both suitcases and all of the cannabis belonged to her. She also confessed to attempting to take the cannabis out of Thailand.

Authorities charged her with attempting to export goods without completing customs procedures under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017). She also faces offences under the Narcotics Code, the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Act B.E. 2542 (1999), the Ministry of Public Health Notification on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) B.E. 2568 (2025), and other relevant laws.

Following her arrest, the suspect and the seized cannabis were handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for further legal proceedings. Police Colonel Salan Santisatsanakul, superintendent of Sakhu Police Station, said the arrest resulted from close cooperation between security agencies and customs officials. He said authorities have intensified inspections of passengers and baggage at Phuket International Airport to prevent illegal items from being smuggled out of the country.

He also confirmed that officials would continue to strictly enforce the law against anyone found attempting to export prohibited or controlled goods illegally.

Daily News reported that the case comes as Thai authorities continue to increase scrutiny of outbound passengers following a series of attempts to smuggle cannabis overseas. Airports across the country have stepped up baggage screening and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in response to the growing number of international trafficking cases.

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 8 July 2026

View full article

Arab Belgian ! How stupid can you be to leave Thailand with two heavy suitcases and not get the attention of customs and police ?

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering if there will a deep investigation as they do with the air hostess.. where comes the cannabis from who imported it in Thailand, is there another recipient?? etc etc

Perhaps it came from legal cannabis farms in Thailand.

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

What prison time? She had a 100% legal product...And she was still in Thailand....Only the export licence had slipped her mind...

Cannabis is only legal for medical use in Thailand and legal possession of cannabis is limited to a maximum of a 30-day supply. The amount that she was in possession of is considered intent to distribute.

17 hours ago, redwood1 said:

hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Stupid woman, Enjoy your prison time 😂

What prison time? She had a 100% legal product...And she was still in Thailand....Only the export licence had slipped her mind..

She's in prison as we speak.

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He said authorities have intensified inspections of passengers and baggage at Phuket International Airport to prevent illegal items from being smuggled out of the country.

She was trying to smuggle illegal items out of Thailand.

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

officials would continue to strictly enforce the law against anyone found attempting to export prohibited or controlled goods illegally.

@redwood1 If I was you, I'd message the mods, apologising and ask to have your nonsense comment removed

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by SAFETY FIRST

A rather exotic interpretation of "COD + Free Shipping ?"

Its for personal use officer. Honest.

its not like there arent warning signs and drug dogs, duh.

You see adverts all over the UK, if you want a holiday in Thailand all expenses paid for.

They go to Thailand to bring back marijuana.

I suppose enforcement in Thailand at airport has been very weak. But airports around the world are catching on what a cluster mess they are doing in Thailand. Horrific reputational damage.

9 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

You see adverts all over the UK, if you want a holiday in Thailand all expenses paid for.

They go to Thailand to bring back marijuana.

I suppose enforcement in Thailand at airport has been very weak. But airports around the world are catching on what a cluster mess they are doing in Thailand. Horrific reputational damage.

Is it in the Jet 2 brochure?

23 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Is it in the Jet 2 brochure?

Nope .... sign posts, local shops, facebook forums.

42 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Horrific reputational damage.

You mean, more reputational damage than Thailand's massive sex tourism industry? 😂

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You mean, more reputational damage than Thailand's massive sex tourism industry? 😂

Most of the more elaborate sex industry is confined to little pockets of Bangkok, and a few miles around Pattaya Beach. You can avoid it if you wish.

Do you not think London, Tokyo, Berlin, Amstedam Vegas, Los Angeles have no sex industries ? Vegas has strip clubs all over. The sex industry is not the sole domain of Thailand.

London basically has a red light district in Soho rite next to family entertainement and west end shows.

In many countries brothels and prostitution is legal.

5 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Most of the more elaborate sex industry is confined to little pockets of Bangkok, and a few miles around Pattaya Beach. You can avoid it if you wish.

What about the less elaborate sex industry? 😂 😂

Millions do not want to avoid it. They come to Thailand seeking it out. The whole "happy ending massage" is a common joke when discussing Thailand.

8 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Do you not think London, Tokyo, Berlin, Amstedam Vegas, Los Angeles have no sex industries ? Vegas has strip clubs all over. The sex industry is not the sole domain of Thailand.

Your point is? Drugs are available in all the locations you mention also.

10 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

London basically has a red light district in Soho rite next to family entertainement and west end shows.

What reputation does Soho have? 😂 😂

10 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

In many countries brothels and prostitution is legal.

Yes, but is it the size and scale of prostitution in Thailand? No.

Do you deny Thailand is well known as a sex tourist destination? Do you seriously believe some people smuggling drugs effects Thailand's reputation more than the massive sex industry here?

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

Nope .... sign posts, local shops, facebook forums.

Sign posts? Any pics of these? Facebook, Telegram etc absolutely, but sign posts, local shops mentioning cannabis, no chance.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by roo860

These reports keep saying 'concealed' in her suitcase.
Looks pretty damn exposed in those suitcases! How do you conceal 31kg? And how else would one carry 31kg when traveling on a plane, if not in a suitcase?

SNAFU

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by FolkGuitar

Is this not a case of overweight baggage?

I had thought that 20 Kgs was the maximum on most international flights.

Will she still have to pay an overweight baggage fee?

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by GammaGlobulin