A British man shares his tough experiences in a new book about his time in one of Thailand's most notorious prisons after being caught smuggling heroin into the country.

 

Johnathan Wheeler, from Holbury, Hampshire, shares his difficult journey in the book "The Tiger Cage," about his nearly 20 years behind bars in Bangkok for drug trafficking.

 

In 1993, at 33 years old and a martial arts enthusiast, Wheeler went to Thailand hoping for a new beginning. He wanted to open a restaurant but needed money. Desperate, he decided to smuggle four pounds of heroin, worth over £1 million (42 million baht), for a payment of £10,000 (420,000 baht).

 

His plan failed at Bangkok airport, where he was arrested and sent to Bangkwang Central Prison with a 50-year sentence hanging over him and the threat of the death penalty.

 

Now 64, Wheeler tells his story, written with Nick Ford. “Nick and I spent two years meeting regularly, talking for hours on the phone, and exchanging many texts. That's why you can hear my voice and emotions so clearly in this book.”

 

 

After serving 18 challenging years, Wheeler was released thanks to an amnesty for the Queen of Thailand’s 80th birthday. He returned to the UK, reunited with his family, and found work in asbestos removal. He reflects on his darkest moments, like when he was kept in a dark cell for months and used toothpaste on his skin to get a hospital bed to sleep on.

 

Despite the difficulties, his release was both joyful and bittersweet. “When I thought I might be shot in the back, I felt all the color leave my face. My early confession saved me from death row, but missing the chance to see my grandmother before her death is a deep regret.”

 

Wheeler has reunited with his daughter, who was just a child when he was imprisoned. His story is one of survival and coming back from tough times.

 

For those interested in his powerful story, "The Tiger Cage" is available on Amazon and other book retailers.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-12

 

 

Not everybody has Mr Red Bull as daddy...

His 'ambition' was starting a restaurant.  Probably better off in a cage.

Another scumbag trying to profit from his criminal activity.  

13 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Wheeler has reunited with his daughter, who was just a child when he was imprisoned. His story is one of survival and coming back from tough times.

 

His story is one of stupidity nothing more.

 

His "tough times" were all self inflicted.

 

F him and all who follow in his footsteps.

 

He would not have written a 'gofundme' book if he had got away with the smuggling.

 

 

*Donald Trump will soon be writing a book about his many years in prison*

 

   I reckon someone will post that soon 

Smuggling heroin into Thailand?

Talk about "Carrying coals to Newcastle".

These books are two a penny these days. Hardship, excruciating boredom, sure, in a Thai jail, but he's smuggling death for Christ's sake. 

He's lucky to escape with his life imo 

 

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

*Donald Trump will soon be writing a book about his many years in prison*

 

His many years in persecution /witch hunt maybe ?

0,zilch ,soon  years in prison.

2 minutes ago, AnnaBanana said:

Smuggling heroin into Thailand?

Talk about "Carrying coals to Newcastle".

No, I think he was smuggling it out.

Seems like everyone writes a book when they get out of Thai prison, read a few. Send them to Hell was a good one. Often they are full of exaggerations on how bad it is as well as stories they just make up.  

Just another moron who wish to tell how bad his life has been. Do the crime, you do the time. 

The man was  not really at risk for execution. In 1993,  217 prisoners were under death sentence in Bang Kwang prison, mostly for murder and drug trafficking, but no prisoners had been executed since 1989.

 

Yes, he was foolish and thoughtless, but he was a mule. An expendable mule. The people who gave him the drugs to smuggle and who profited from the trade, continued on their merry way.

10 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Another scumbag trying to profit from his criminal activity.  

 

Which is?

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A British man shares his tough experiences in a new book about his time in one of Thailand's most notorious prisons after being caught smuggling heroin into the country.

Well I for one won't be buying it...   

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster ....

10 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

*Donald Trump will soon be writing a book about his many years in prison*

 

   I reckon someone will post that soon 

No doubt following up with his "many years in prison" visiting all the Lefty Swamp Creatures he helped put there!

Nancy Pelosi recently said: "I want to see Trump in Prison!".

Donald replied: "Sorry Nancy, but I will be way too busy to come visit you in Prison"!😎

 

11 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

*Donald Trump will soon be writing a book about his many years in prison*

 

   I reckon someone will post that soon 

what an ignorantly dick statement... another MSM programmed dumling... 

For those unfamiliar with the original story.
"12 May 1994

A 34-year-old Briton, who was in Thailand studying martial arts, was

arrested at Bangkok airport early yesterday and charged with smuggling

two kilos of heroin. Jonathan Wheeler, from Southampton, was arrested by

Thai customs as he prepared to board a flight to Taipei, Taiwan."
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12697620.briton-on-drug-charge/

1994 - NOT 1993.

"8 Feb 2000
Jonathan Wheeler has lived in Bang Kwang prison for five and a half years. The story of how he got there is so familiar that it is a cliche. He was trapped in a gambling debt and threatened with death unless he carried a package out of Thailand to pay it off. The dealers tipped off customs and while Wheeler was stopped the people with the serious quantities of heroin slipped through. Wheeler's life - working in a bar on the island of Ko Samui and kick boxing for a living - was over at the age of 33. He was sentenced to 50 years."

Again, making it 1994, not 1993. Note how the story has changed from what it was 24 years ago.

I guess you won't sell as many books if people know the truth about why you were in prison.

All these negative thoughts the guy spent time in prison he made a mistake sounds like he was in dead at the time he probably wasn’t thinking clearly he figured out he would solve his dead problems and God busted TIT

Years ago,you done the crime&served your time& was released.

Nowadays,you do the time,get released,write a book and make a profit off of all those stupid enough to buy it wanting to read of the perpetrators own stupidity.Makes a bit of a mockery of the saying "Crime doesn't pay"When plainly it does.

2 hours ago, Joe Boy Walton said:

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster ....

Nah, you're thinking of Thaksin not this guy. At least he did 18 years. A relatively lightly read book is not much compensation.

 

Do the crime do the time having said that had he been a thai National he wouldn’t have spent so long in that hell hole

This literary niche/genre has been done to death. The Damage Done was sorta interesting but now it's zzzzzzz.

he should have flown to singapore

I’d rather read Winnie the Pooh.

only book i found really good was ---the damage done ---by warren fellows, i read that before my firts trip to thailand

With 64 back "home" will be another good experience. Social welfare will welcome you with open arms.

Waste of space. 

Not necessary to buy or read that booklet.

Who cares about this idiot if your stupid enough to try and smuggle drugs then you should rot in prison I'd rather buy 2nd hand toilet paper before this pile of crap

I can't do with 'writers' who rely on ghostwriters. If you can't write it yourself, don't bother.