British Tourist Arrested at Phuket Airport for Cocaine Possession

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, BusyB said:

The very best drug is a clear head.

 

I agree 100% and I often go for weeks or months without having even a drink...  

It improves clarity of thought...

.... but there is another facet..  with 100's of thoughts at any one time the head can be a very noisy place and I can understand those seeking oblivion, or at least the drunken stupor to dull the senses.

 

I've never taken cocaine, but I find that the times I've taken Marijuana it helps calm those noises within ones head and aids sleep.

 

I like exercise for my clarity... but only certain types....   skiing down a mountainside the 'head is silent' not an alternative thought at all - not a lot can do that other than competitive sports and while I still play, I'm getting too old and the body just doesn't want to keep up.

 

I can understand those seeking alternative highs so, so long as they can handle the 'lows' afterwards and even though its not for me, I think certain drugs such as Marijuana and Cocaine should be legalised.

 

 

[Luuk Chaai]

5 hours ago, ronster said:

Obviously took it with him on purpose.

Utter idiot ! 🙈

 

and think of the mind set ..

 oh yeah ..  I want to sit on a hot sun drenched beach surrounded by russians .. tweeked off my rocker ....

[terryofcrete]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

amidst Thailand’s tropical allure.

 

Enough ! That's worse than "Nestled"

[Confuscious]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

British Tourist's Cocaine Bust Turns Phuket Arrival Sour

 

Picture courtesy of The Private World

 

A British tourist's vacation plans took a dramatic turn as Phuket International Airport became the unlikely setting of his legal troubles. The 42-year-old man faced arrest on February 18 after airport authorities discovered 4.11 grammes of cocaine concealed in his baggage upon arrival.

 

It all began around 5pm in the bustling international arrivals hall, where airport staff picked up on the man’s erratic behaviour. His agitated antics drew attention, prompting a thorough search from customs officers that led to the unearthing of the illicit substance stashed in a plastic bag.

 

While the man's identity remains undisclosed, his situation became a matter of public record as he was escorted to Sakhu Police Station. There, he faces serious charges, including possession and illegal importation of a Category 2 narcotic—his holiday in Thailand now overshadowed by a brush with the law.

 

The incidence of drug-related arrests involving British nationals in Phuket isn’t unprecedented. Earlier this year, law enforcement encountered a British individual engaged in questionable conduct.

 

Under scrutiny during a roadside interaction with Kamala Police, officers found ketamine in his possession, leading to his arrest. This case, like the recent airport incident, highlights a troubling trend where some visitors engage in illicit drug activities amidst Thailand’s tropical allure.

 

While individual details may remain undisclosed, such instances serve as stark reminders of the Thai authorities' zero-tolerance stance on drug offences. Travellers, drawn by the island's famed beaches and nightlife, face severe legal repercussions if caught in possession of narcotics.

 

The police, known for conducting routine patrols and stringent checks, stress the importance of adherence to local laws. Photographic evidence from past seizures, such as images on the police's official social media, underscores the continued vigilance in monitoring and disrupting the illegal drug trade in tourism hotspots like Phuket.

 

British tourists and other international visitors are thus urged to enjoy Thailand responsibly, aware of the legal boundaries that exist to preserve its idyllic landscapes.

 

As authorities maintain their firm grip on preventing drug offences, respecting local laws remains crucial for ensuring a pleasant and lawful stay, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-20

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH
Read a new thread from a Brit about how awfull Thai prisons are in a few weeks.
 

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, Leadidge said:

But really, are the Police that 'sharp'...  How 'agitated' and 'erratic' does one have to behave to draw attention amongst a throng of hundreds of international passengers from different cultures ???

 

In most countries that have a 'green channel' for customs there are trained officers, both covert and overt, who look out for this kind of behaviour. They can pick up quite a lot from body language.

[Dogmatix]

Fly to a country where you can legally buy as much weed as you can handle.  Why bring in this stuff?

[thesetat]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

While the immigration department remains tight-lipped about further details concerning the identity of the suspect or the exact circumstances leading to his arrest, it serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance tourists must maintain while in a foreign land.

I would suspect the reasons ofr their not wanting to provide these details would be because someone warned them he was carrying drugs. 

I have been through the airport arrivals screening so many times i lost count and never have i seen them do more than a cursory scan of baggage which would hardly show a small baggie of 4 grams for them to want to open and search them. 

Jeez! 99% of the times I arrived at that airport the xray screening for baggage was never open and the only place i stopped was to get my entry stamp. 

[dddave]

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It could be that he just was simply complacent and forgot that it was in his bag....  rather that 'trying to smuggle'.... 

 

Last year I flew from Geneva to Doha with Paracetamol+Codeine mix...

I'd been under the weather and I'd picked up the Paracetamol from Heathrow Airport on my way out to Geneva a week earlier... 

 

It was only upon my arrival in Doha at my hotel that I realised... silly fool, that mistake could have been costly.

 

I wonder how many people inadvertently fly from the UK and Europe with over the counter meds which contain 'additional medication' classified as Cat A and Cat B narcotics at the destination end. 

 

i.e. flying from the the UK to Thailand, the Codeine in Paracetamol+Codeine medication is also illegal. 

Reminds me of the fool last year who handed his passport to an IO at Immigration and a zip of coke fell out from between the pages. It was big in the new for a few days, then disappeared.  I'd be willing to bet an "arrangement" was made.

[hotchilli]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

A British tourist's holiday in Phuket took an unexpected turn when he was arrested at Phuket International Airport for allegedly smuggling cocaine into the country.

Numpty

[richard_smith237]

12 hours ago, dddave said:

Reminds me of the fool last year who handed his passport to an IO at Immigration and a zip of coke fell out from between the pages. It was big in the new for a few days, then disappeared.  I'd be willing to bet an "arrangement" was made.

 

Yeah... I recall that...   Exceptional stupidity on a Grade A1 level !!!...

 

Its a shame there are no 'follow-ups' to these stories - it would be interesting to know what happened.

 

But... I also suppose that if there were an 'under the table agreement' then any publicity and information of a followup would have to be quashed for the obvious reasons.

 

It would just be interesting to know if it cost him 20,000 baht or 100,000 baht etc... or if he was simply deported and charged in the UK, or held here.

[dddave]

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Yeah... I recall that...   Exceptional stupidity on a Grade A1 level !!!...

 

Its a shame there are no 'follow-ups' to these stories - it would be interesting to know what happened.

 

But... I also suppose that if there were an 'under the table agreement' then any publicity and information of a followup would have to be quashed for the obvious reasons.

 

It would just be interesting to know if it cost him 20,000 baht or 100,000 baht etc... or if he was simply deported and charged in the UK, or held here.

A former reporter in Thailand told me that trials here are very secretive, rarely announced in advance.  Actual trials are apparently quite rare as a sizeable percent of defendants plead guilty at closed hearings as penalties are usually double if a perp insists on a trial.  I don't know if Thailand has a jury system or whether a single or a panel of judges make the ultimate decisions.   I would guess "Judge" is a very lucrative position.

[Purdey]

Couldn't he have found drugs in Thailand? Why import? Coals to Newcastle etc.

[black tabby12345]

Another check in of Quality Tourist at Hotel Ban Kwang(AKA Bkk Hilton)...

[black tabby12345]

19 hours ago, Moonlover said:

In most countries that have a 'green channel' for customs there are trained officers, both covert and overt, who look out for this kind of behaviour. They can pick up quite a lot from body language.

 

Very true.

They got a hound instinct.

[black tabby12345]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Couldn't he have found drugs in Thailand? Why import? Coals to Newcastle etc.

 

Omitting Travellers' first principal: Study destination before leaving home...

[black tabby12345]

19 hours ago, Moonlover said:

In most countries that have a 'green channel' for customs there are trained officers, both covert and overt, who look out for this kind of behaviour. They can pick up quite a lot from body language.

 

Especially, eyes.

They often speak louder than words...

[Ironmike]

This is the 2nd British idiot this year to be caught with Cocain in his passport there was another guy in Bangkok exactly the same a few months ago must be something in the water over there. But I do hope he has a few years in the beautiful Bangkok Hilton to grow a brain. 

[black tabby12345]

8 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

Bangkok Hilton 

 

Can check in anytime they like, but can never leave(at will).

Like Hotel California...

[TheFishman1]

Traveling in with 4 g of powder how stupid can you be TIT

[joonchan]

On 2/20/2025 at 12:36 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

-----------

 

Anyone (regardless of nationality) is an utter foo

l to be travelling with 'any drug'... even prescription drugs need to be double checked....  as what is legal in the UK may not be legal in the Middle East or Asia.

 

Travelling with 4 grammes of Cat 2 Narcotic is outrageously stupid - its probably readily available here.

 

 

 

But really, are the Police that 'sharp'...  How 'agitated' and 'erratic' does one have to behave to draw attention amongst a throng of hundreds of international passengers from different cultures ???

 

Surely there was something else involved - I very much doubt the BiB were able to pick this guy out just on his behavior - I suspect it was more likely the trained sniffer dogs that picked up a scent.

 

 

No sympathy for the guy - this is clearly a 'personal use amount' so I hope it doesn't ruin his life.

 

A flame has been removed by admin

Knowing how much Thai jail sucks why even risk it!!! 

[Captain Flack]

A post breaking form rules has been removed.

 

@CapeCod if you call one more article clickbait you are having a posting holiday!

[richard_smith237]

On 2/20/2025 at 10:36 AM, richard_smith237 said:

On 2/20/2025 at 10:27 AM, webfact said:

His agitated antics drew attention, prompting a thorough search from customs officers that led to the unearthing of the illicit substance stashed in a plastic bag.

 

But really, are the Police that 'sharp'...  How 'agitated' and 'erratic' does one have to behave to draw attention amongst a throng of hundreds of international passengers from different cultures ???

 

OK...  so to counter my own comment - I've just seen the video showing how this guy was acting... 

 

It didn't take subtle skilful policing to identify this guy - it seems he was making an utter nuisance of himself.... 

 

 

 

 

[CK1980]

On 2/20/2025 at 11:38 AM, Harrisfan said:

Maybe time to remove UK passports from Visa Exemption. 

What a stupid comment. What would that achieve? It is not the Visa exemption that made this moron try and smuggle cocaine in to Thailand. He could easily do that with a Visa.

[CK1980]

On 2/20/2025 at 12:24 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

It could be that he just was simply complacent and forgot that it was in his bag....  rather that 'trying to smuggle'.... 

 

Last year I flew from Geneva to Doha with Paracetamol+Codeine mix...

I'd been under the weather and I'd picked up the Paracetamol from Heathrow Airport on my way out to Geneva a week earlier... 

 

It was only upon my arrival in Doha at my hotel that I realised... silly fool, that mistake could have been costly.

 

I wonder how many people inadvertently fly from the UK and Europe with over the counter meds which contain 'additional medication' classified as Cat A and Cat B narcotics at the destination end. 

 

i.e. flying from the the UK to Thailand, the Codeine in Paracetamol+Codeine medication is also illegal. 

Not sure about that. I don't think he 'forgot' about more than 4 grammes of coke. Considering his erratic behaviour, it's more likely he is an addict and couldn't bear the thought of the long journey and arriving without being able to get his fix, so took a stash with him. Utterly stupid and quite sad. I knew people like that from my home town which has a big drug problem. They wouldn't even go on holiday to places if they couldn't take drugs with them or get them on arrival. It's a sad reality for some. 

 

As for the over the counter meds, yes it's true that most people don't check, I've done the same as you with the paracetamol+codeine painkillers without even thinking about it. But this is not relevant to this article as he surely knew that cocaine is illegal. He was not inadvertently bringing a product sold to him over the counter in the UK. 

[digger70]

On 2/20/2025 at 5:35 AM, webfact said:

smuggling cocaine into the country.

 

On 2/20/2025 at 5:35 AM, webfact said:

4.11 grams of a substance identified as cocaine.

That's Bad     But  the  4 G wouldn't last long for personal use .

[Briggsy]

Was that a variation of the "I can't breathe" tactic?

[CK1980]

3 hours ago, digger70 said:

 

That's Bad     But  the  4 G wouldn't last long for personal use .

True, it was probably more likely stashed in his suitcase to tide him over for the journey until he can get some in Thailand. Bad move. Now he has a big comedown, no coke and a possible stretch in the Thai penal system. Holiday of a lifetime.

[pacovl46]

If course he couldn't wait until he was through immigration, he just had to do bumps on the flight, hence the "agitated" behavior....

[josephbloggs]

8 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Was that a variation of the "I can't breathe" tactic?

"Tactic"?

[still kicking]

On 2/20/2025 at 6:04 PM, Moonlover said:

In most countries that have a 'green channel' for customs there are trained officers, both covert and overt, who look out for this kind of behaviour. They can pick up quite a lot from body language.

Yes they do in OZ But most people who get caught are Chinese or Asians