Thai customs officers have seized 100 kilograms of dried cannabis flowers concealed inside a shipment of young coconuts destined for the United Kingdom, authorities announced on 27 July 2026.
The Department of Customs said officers from Laem Chabang Port Customs Office inspected an export consignment declared as 1,656 boxes of young coconuts weighing a total of 16,560 kilograms. The shipment was listed for export to the UK.
During the inspection, officers discovered dried cannabis flower buds hidden among the declared cargo. The seized cannabis weighed 100 kilograms and was valued at 1,000,000 baht.
The entire shipment was confiscated and legal proceedings have been initiated.
Concealed inside export shipment
According to the Customs Department, the case involves allegedly submitting, or allowing another person to submit, incorrect customs declarations and documentation in an attempt to evade legal restrictions under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017).
Authorities also cited Section 46 of the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542 (1999), together with the Ministry of Public Health’s 2025 notification designating cannabis as a controlled herb. The regulation came into force following the notification dated 23 June 2025.
Officials have not released details of the exporter or whether any arrests have been made.
The seizure is another reminder that while cannabis remains available under tightly regulated conditions within Thailand, exporting cannabis products without complying with Thai law and the import laws of the destination country can lead to serious criminal offences.
Business operators involved in Thailand’s cannabis industry should also be aware that cannabis laws differ significantly between countries. Products that may be legally cultivated or sold under Thai regulations cannot automatically be shipped overseas, and import restrictions in destinations such as the United Kingdom remain subject to local legislation.
Thai authorities have increased scrutiny of cannabis-related exports since tighter domestic controls were introduced in 2025, with customs inspections focusing on preventing illegal international shipments.
Picture courtesy of Komchadluek
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28 July 2026
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