Indonesian Police Seize Thai Cannabis En Route to UK

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Marijuana-Cannabis-Weed-Bud-Gram. Representative image. Source courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Jakarta – Indonesian police have apprehended two individuals suspected of being part of a marijuana smuggling ring, thwarting an elaborate scheme to export the drug from Southeast Asia to the United Kingdom. The suspects reportedly attempted to ship cannabis camouflaged within packages of bed linen and cat toys.

 

While Indonesia witnesses marijuana confiscations from time to time, the cross-border element in this case stands out. Marthinus Hukom, the head of Indonesia’s narcotics agency, mentioned, "This is a new phenomenon as the marijuana from Thailand was sent first to Indonesia then [was destined for] Europe.”

 

He further disclosed that the culprits, both Indonesian nationals, had plans to dispatch over 100kg of cannabis from Jakarta to Liverpool.

 

During a raid at Soekarno Hatta Airport on July 25, authorities discovered more than 30kg of marijuana concealed within bed linen and cat toys. A follow-up raid led to the unearthing of an additional 80kg of marijuana housed within a shophouse associated with the suspects. Hukom estimated the total street value of the seized cannabis at 25 billion rupiah.

 

The detained suspects face charges under Indonesia’s stringent narcotics law, which imposes the death penalty as its maximum punishment.

 

In a noteworthy backdrop to this incident, Thailand, a leading source of the intercepted cannabis, decriminalised marijuana in 2022, marking it as one of the first nations in Asia to do so.

 

This shift sparked a surge in recreational use and the proliferation of cannabis cafes and retailers across the country. However, the Thai government recently announced plans to re-regulate cannabis, aiming to confine its legality strictly to medical purposes. This legislative push follows concerns over widespread recreational consumption.

 

This case highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges in regional drug enforcement, particularly as nations adapt their drug policies.

 

-- 2024-08-06

 

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[hotchilli]

I guess it was an attempt to increase sales from Thailand as street value drops.

[WHansen]

With the amount of grow rooms and availability in the UK i am very surprised there is still money to be made from smuggling weed, especially if outdoor grown.