Free holidays for Brits ‘high-jacked’ into Thai drug courier scheme

[snoop1130]

 

In a shocking twist on the idyllic Thai getaway, British citizens have reportedly been exploited as unwitting drug couriers, smuggling cannabis from Thailand back to the UK under the guise of a free holiday. British authorities have now called on Thai police to clamp down on this burgeoning drug mule scheme.

 

According to Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the illicit operation was revealed following a visit from British ambassador Mark Gooding and officials from the UK’s National Crime Agency. The visiting delegation urged Thai authorities to aid in stopping the flow of cannabis into Britain.

 

Despite the allure of sun-soaked beaches, willing Brits are being targeted through the Telegram chat app, lured by offers of free tours, accommodation, and even pocket money. The catch? Smuggling cannabis back to British shores.

 

Lt. Gen. Phanurat noted a stark rise in cannabis interceptions this year, with British authorities discovering hundreds of kilograms of the drug smuggled from Thailand.

 

“These Britons aren’t being duped, they’re being tempted.”

 

The ONCB has wasted no time initiating an investigation, with recent busts uncovering a parcel concealing 210 grams of ecstasy precursor, falsely declared as a dietary supplement. The package, sent from the UK, was intended for a British and Dutch national residing in Bangkok.

 

Raids on these foreign nationals’ rented properties revealed 36kg of cannabis in sealed packages, packaging equipment, and 1.4kg of potent cannabis resin. ONCB’s law enforcement director, Prin Mekanandha, indicated that the pair, in Thailand as tourists for about four months, were major players in sourcing cannabis for illicit export to the UK.

 

Bangkok Post reported that narcotics police discovered slips indicating mailed parcels falsely declared as containing pillows, further exposing the smuggling operation. Cannabis products were being dispatched via parcel to Britain while others were handed to a network of couriers recruited through Telegram.

 

These recruits, needing no visas for UK entry, concealed the cannabis in their luggage, unwittingly contributing to Britain’s burgeoning cannabis problem. The ONCB, in collaboration with British authorities, remains vigilant in dismantling this audacious scheme.

 

By Bob Scott

Picture courtesy of Travel and Leisure

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-06

 

 

[BritManToo]

Legalise cannabis and end the problem!

[RJRS1301]

No such thing as a free holiday, how stupid can people be?

[terryofcrete]

Should have thought of this when legalising cannabis  in Thailand 

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

No such thing as a free holiday, how stupid can people be?

 

Not stupid,...................................... just dopey...!😳

 

 

 

 

Edited November 6 by Scouse123

[Scouse123]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Legalise cannabis and end the problem!

 

Then they'll be wanting to legalize other substances, and so it goes on!

[Scouse123]

46 minutes ago, terryofcrete said:

Should have thought of this when legalising cannabis  in Thailand 

 

 

It's not as though there isn't a plentiful supply of the stuff in the UK, there are cannabis farms in nearly every abandoned house and farms in the North of England.

 

It's rife.

[kuzmabruk]

57 minutes ago, terryofcrete said:

Should have thought of this when legalising cannabis  in Thailand 

Why?   Thailand’s society is not responsible for the UK’s society.  To each his own.  That’s what border patrol is for.  

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

No such thing as a free holiday, how stupid can people be?

Who says they're stupid.  Drug mules.have been around a long time.  They usually get the trip and  paid.  Same crap with tobacco products 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Despite the allure of sun-soaked beaches, willing Brits are being targeted through the Telegram chat app, lured by offers of free tours, accommodation, and even pocket money. The catch? Smuggling cannabis back to British shores

I'm sure a few desperate out of work idiots will take the chance

[wombat]

2 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Should have thought of this when legalising cannabis  in Thailand 

Like the LOS could give a rats about punters sending weed back to anywhere.

Export dollars are export dollars.

[RichardColeman]

12 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Legalise cannabis and end the problem!

Think you will find that people doing this smuggling for something for free would move to more harder and more illegal drugs. They are not interested in what type of drugs they are, but freebies !

[Ironmike]

They must breed another form of complete idiots in the UK these days,, who would be so stupid to risk 10 years in a Thai prison for a free holiday,, lock them all up

[klauskunkel]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These recruits concealed the cannabis in their luggage, unwittingly contributing to Britain’s burgeoning cannabis problem.

Unwittingly? I think they were quite aware of what they were doing and did it intentionally.

[john donson]

so how much can you legally export ? personal use? but but office, 10 gram a day x 365 = 3.65 kg...

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Think you will find that people doing this smuggling for something for free would move to more harder and more illegal drugs. They are not interested in what type of drugs they are, but freebies !

Legalise all drugs then.

[newbee2022]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

In a shocking twist on the idyllic Thai getaway, British citizens have reportedly been exploited as unwitting drug couriers, smuggling cannabis from Thailand back to the UK under the guise of a free holiday. British authorities have now called on Thai police to clamp down on this burgeoning drug mule scheme.

 

According to Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the illicit operation was revealed following a visit from British ambassador Mark Gooding and officials from the UK’s National Crime Agency. The visiting delegation urged Thai authorities to aid in stopping the flow of cannabis into Britain.

 

Despite the allure of sun-soaked beaches, willing Brits are being targeted through the Telegram chat app, lured by offers of free tours, accommodation, and even pocket money. The catch? Smuggling cannabis back to British shores.

 

Lt. Gen. Phanurat noted a stark rise in cannabis interceptions this year, with British authorities discovering hundreds of kilograms of the drug smuggled from Thailand.

 

“These Britons aren’t being duped, they’re being tempted.”

 

The ONCB has wasted no time initiating an investigation, with recent busts uncovering a parcel concealing 210 grams of ecstasy precursor, falsely declared as a dietary supplement. The package, sent from the UK, was intended for a British and Dutch national residing in Bangkok.

 

Raids on these foreign nationals’ rented properties revealed 36kg of cannabis in sealed packages, packaging equipment, and 1.4kg of potent cannabis resin. ONCB’s law enforcement director, Prin Mekanandha, indicated that the pair, in Thailand as tourists for about four months, were major players in sourcing cannabis for illicit export to the UK.

 

Bangkok Post reported that narcotics police discovered slips indicating mailed parcels falsely declared as containing pillows, further exposing the smuggling operation. Cannabis products were being dispatched via parcel to Britain while others were handed to a network of couriers recruited through Telegram.

 

These recruits, needing no visas for UK entry, concealed the cannabis in their luggage, unwittingly contributing to Britain’s burgeoning cannabis problem. The ONCB, in collaboration with British authorities, remains vigilant in dismantling this audacious scheme.

 

By Bob Scott

Picture courtesy of Travel and Leisure

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-06

 

 

Not the brightest candles, these Brits 😂

[easydoor]

Don't tell me someone doesn't know there is something wrong whem they offer you: free stay, free food, pocket money...... You realy heve to be stupid to accept this. 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Should have thought of this when legalising cannabis  in Thailand 

Cannabis was not legalised in Thailand.

It was decriminalised - for medicinal purposes only!

[black tabby12345]

British citizens have reportedly been exploited as unwitting drug couriers...

 

What do they mean by 'Being Exploited'?

It is the mutually agreed plot l under the table.

When they do it in exchange of their travel expenses, they do it On Purpose(spontaneously).

Nothing like the case where innocent tourists were set up(criminals  slipped narcotics in their belongings  unnoticed).

Carriers are just as guilty as those behind.

Being Exploited, means one party was used to their disadvantage to enrich someone else.

But in this situation, they are both Beneficiaries(in their term)  of their illicit activities.

 

 

 

Edited November 7 by black tabby12345

[lordgrinz]

X-Ray the bags at a Thai airport, then route all these UK return flights through Singapore, give the Singaporeans a heads up. Problem will solve itself in no time!

[Bday Prang]

58 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Cannabis was not legalised in Thailand.

It was decriminalised - for medicinal purposes only!

yeah right, so how does that explain zero arrests for recreational use / possession ?     Not to mention around 10,000  licenced shops selling it which have  clearly nothing to do with medicinal usage ?   Whatever you may wish to think it is clearly at present effectively legal..     And don't bother replying with your usual "but but anutin said" lecture.  nobody cares, except you  

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, easydoor said:

Don't tell me someone doesn't know there is something wrong whem they offer you: free stay, free food, pocket money...... You realy heve to be stupid to accept this. 

......... or female.

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

yeah right, so how does that explain zero arrests for recreational use / possession ?     Not to mention around 10,000  licenced shops selling it which have  clearly nothing to do with medicinal usage ?   Whatever you may wish to think it is clearly at present effectively legal..     And don't bother replying with your usual "but but anutin said" lecture.  nobody cares, except you  

 

That's like saying people who don't wear motorcycle helmets, drive without licenses, or driver against oncoming traffic are effectively legal, they are not. 

[transam]

3 hours ago, Ironmike said:

They must breed another form of complete idiots in the UK these days,, who would be so stupid to risk 10 years in a Thai prison for a free holiday,, lock them all up

Many, many countries have drug mules...........😉

[harryviking]

😆Some people are just DUMB! I am sure they have no idea of what "Bangkok Hilton" is" Maybe they think it is a bonus???🤣

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, harryviking said:

😆Some people are just DUMB! I am sure they have no idea of what "Bangkok Hilton" is" Maybe they think it is a bonus???🤣

 

Do they have 5-Star accommodations? Any reviews on the pool and the food? 😜

[RamblingOn]

6 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

No such thing as a free holiday, how stupid can people be?

Very, look to the USA

[harryviking]

1 minute ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Do they have 5-Star accommodations? Any reviews on the pool and the food? 😜

🤣

[Cabradelmar]

Unwitting? Unintelligent more likely. How stupid do you to be to be an unwitting participate to mule kilos of ganja back to the UK in your luggage.