13kg of Cannabis Found in Krabi Airport Bathroom Suitcase

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

At Krabi International Airport, authorities have uncovered a substantial 13 kilograms of compressed cannabis hidden in a suitcase left in a men's restroom. The find, made last night in the departure hall, has prompted law enforcement to analyse surveillance footage to identify the unknown owner of the suitcase.

 

The concealed cannabis, estimated to be worth approximately 260,000 Thai Baht, was packaged within plastic bags, wrapped in clothing, and placed in a black wheeled suitcase. It was found by airport personnel who promptly reported the suspicious find to the police at Nuea Khlong station.

 

Pol. Col. Aphichat Chinaphen, the superintendent of Nuea Khlong police station, spearheaded the immediate investigation. Around 11:50 p.m. on March 8th, he received alerts to the suspicious item, prompting a swift dispatch of officers to the airport.

 

By the time they arrived, security personnel had already opened the suitcase revealing its illicit contents—compressed cannabis bricks packed in six neatly wrapped plastic bags, camouflaged with a light green sleeveless shirt and a white spaghetti strap shirt.

The discovery of such a significant quantity of cannabis has sparked an urgent investigation, with authorities meticulously examining CCTV footage to identify the owner of the suitcase. This sizeable amount of cannabis is likely destined for distribution rather than personal use, sparking concerns about potential drug trafficking routes through the busy airport.

 

Cannabis use in Thailand remains a deeply divisive topic. While the country has taken strides towards medical marijuana legalisation, recreational use is strictly controlled. The discovery at the airport only highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in regulating the flow of illicit substances.

 

As the investigation delves deeper, the police have expressed confidence in tracking down the person responsible. Meanwhile, security measures at Krabi International Airport have been heightened to prevent any further illegal activities of this nature.

 

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present need for vigilance and cooperation among international airports in monitoring and curtailing illicit drug trafficking.

 

We'll continue to monitor this story as more details emerge. This incident reinforces the critical role of security and law enforcement in maintaining public safety and thwarting illegal drug distribution networks.

 

As authorities work diligently to track the perpetrator, all eyes remain on Krabi, a crucial gateway to Thailand's stunning southern regions, reported nThai Newsroom.

 

-- 2025-03-10

 

 

[Geoffggi]

Just personal hand baggage nothing to see here ...................LOL

[dddave]

Somebody chickened-out!  Maybe asked by "a friend" to take a "lost" suitcase back home and decided to check the contents.  More likely somebody decided it just wasn't worth it.  Whoever arranged it is going to be very unhappy.

[zepplin]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

At Krabi International Airport, authorities have uncovered a substantial 13 kilograms of compressed cannabis hidden in a suitcase left in a men's restroom. The find, made last night in the departure hall, has prompted law enforcement to analyse surveillance footage to identify the unknown owner of the suitcase.

 

The concealed cannabis, estimated to be worth approximately 260,000 Thai Baht, was packaged within plastic bags, wrapped in clothing, and placed in a black wheeled suitcase. It was found by airport personnel who promptly reported the suspicious find to the police at Nuea Khlong station.

 

Pol. Col. Aphichat Chinaphen, the superintendent of Nuea Khlong police station, spearheaded the immediate investigation. Around 11:50 p.m. on March 8th, he received alerts to the suspicious item, prompting a swift dispatch of officers to the airport.

 

By the time they arrived, security personnel had already opened the suitcase revealing its illicit contents—compressed cannabis bricks packed in six neatly wrapped plastic bags, camouflaged with a light green sleeveless shirt and a white spaghetti strap shirt.

 

The discovery of such a significant quantity of cannabis has sparked an urgent investigation, with authorities meticulously examining CCTV footage to identify the owner of the suitcase. This sizeable amount of cannabis is likely destined for distribution rather than personal use, sparking concerns about potential drug trafficking routes through the busy airport.

 

Cannabis use in Thailand remains a deeply divisive topic. While the country has taken strides towards medical marijuana legalisation, recreational use is strictly controlled. The discovery at the airport only highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in regulating the flow of illicit substances.

 

As the investigation delves deeper, the police have expressed confidence in tracking down the person responsible. Meanwhile, security measures at Krabi International Airport have been heightened to prevent any further illegal activities of this nature.

 

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present need for vigilance and cooperation among international airports in monitoring and curtailing illicit drug trafficking.

 

We'll continue to monitor this story as more details emerge. This incident reinforces the critical role of security and law enforcement in maintaining public safety and thwarting illegal drug distribution networks.

 

As authorities work diligently to track the perpetrator, all eyes remain on Krabi, a crucial gateway to Thailand's stunning southern regions, reported nThai Newsroom.

 

-- 2025-03-10

 

 

20,000 bht a kilo, seems v high! And I bet it was from a departure customer, who chickened out at the last moment, so no big search needed! 

[snoop1130]

British Man Arrested in Krabi for Smuggling 34kg Cannabis

 

 

A massive 34-kilogram cannabis haul has led to the arrest of a British man at Krabi International Airport, intensifying concerns over drug trafficking in Thailand. The dramatic late-night arrest occurred on March 8, when airport staff discovered a suspicious bag left in the men's bathroom in the International Departures Terminal.

 

Police officials found a blue suitcase packed with 35 packages of cannabis flower buds, carefully vacuum-sealed, weighing a substantial 37.84 kilograms with packaging. Airport security, aided by advanced X-ray screening, uncovered the illegal stash meant to mask any cannabis odours.

 

The suspect, whose identity has been withheld by police, faces serious charges related to drug trafficking and customs violations within Thai law. He is charged with attempting to export undeclared goods and breaching regulations on controlled herbs, according to the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Act.

 

 

Despite Thailand’s relaxed cannabis laws for domestic use, authorities maintain stringent penalties for trafficking. The case is under investigation, with evidence transferred to Nuea Khlong Police Station for further proceedings.

 

This incident highlights the ongoing vigilance against drug smuggling in Thailand's airports, where authorities are unyielding against such illicit activities. Win Sinhaseni, a cannabis shop owner in Bangkok, expressed disappointment, noting the negative impact on Thailand's cannabis industry. "Punishment is justified to a point. But then again, it's just weed," he remarked.

 

As the legal process unfolds, this arrest serves as a reminder of the risks traffickers face amid Thailand's strict enforcement against drug smuggling, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-10

 

 

[hotchilli]

I bet he's twitching now... that's quite the haul

[Gottfrid]

Yesterday 13 kg belonging to who?

Today, the Brits top the list with 34 kilo, and the runner up is Indian men who got only 22 kg. The day is still young!

[khunjeff]

"Trafficking" a substance that can be bought and sold legally - crime of the century for sure.

[oxo1947]

9 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Trafficking" a substance that can be bought and sold legally - crime of the century for sure.

 

Brought and sold legally in the country he was taking it to........  

[Thingamabob]

51 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

 

Brought and sold legally in the country he was taking it to........  

He was apprehended in the departures lounge with product bought in Thailand. May well be a problem wherever he was heading but I'm not clear as to what extent he was breaking the law in Thailand. 

[Felton Jarvis]

I thought it was legal.  🙂

[snoop1130]

British Tourist Faces 10-Year Sentence for Cannabis Smuggling in Krabi

 

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

Daniel James Hallett, a 38-year-old British tourist from Hull, is potentially facing a decade-long prison sentence in Thailand after allegedly attempting to smuggle 38 kilos of cannabis at Krabi Airport. Hallett, formerly a haulage company owner, was detained on March 8 as he tried to board a flight to London, following suspicions raised by customs officials during routine security checks.

 

Officials discovered 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flowers cleverly concealed in his luggage with additional layers to disguise the scent. Captured at the airport wearing a charity t-shirt, Hallett was beside two massive suitcases alleged to contain the illegal substance.

 

After the seizure of the cannabis, Hallett was taken to Nua Khlong District Police Station, with investigations underway regarding the smuggling attempt. He is charged under the Thai Customs Act and Traditional Thai Medicine Protection and Promotion Act for attempting to export controlled substances without permission.

 

 

Police Colonel Apichat Jinaphen stressed the severity of the charges, clarifying that although cannabis is legal in Thailand, export without proper clearance violates the law. Hallett faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years, along with possible fines and confiscation of the illicit goods.

 

With heightened airport security following numerous smuggling attempts, authorities urge tourists to respect Thailand’s nuanced cannabis regulations. Hallett's arrest marks the latest incident in a series of foreign nationals caught in similar offenses over the past year, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-12

 

 

[Keeps]

I am sometimes one of the first to 'defend' my fellow countrymen when some of the usual suspects on here are having a pop just for the sake of it if a Brit is involved. But, what are these people thinking? They deserve all that's coming to them.

 

I don't know whether that was an internal flight or a flight booked through all the way to the UK. If the latter (and maybe even the former), it has to be illegal to try and check-in contraband.

 

You still have to run the customs gauntlet at a UK airport. I never bring anything back to the UK that could get me into the slightest bit of trouble. I seem to have one of them faces that semi regularly gets me pulled over. Regardless of that, I just wouldn't dare.

 

Utter stupidity.

 

[Jeff the Chef]

Just spoke to No1 son in UK he reckons it would be worth 8/10 times more over there but then said WTF was he thinking, getting it through UK customs would be a challenge, at best. he's been stopped a few times on return over the years.

[short-Timer]

On 3/10/2025 at 7:32 AM, webfact said:

recreational use is strictly controlled.

Really? You mean those 2,000+ legally registered and licensed retail cannabis shops strewn across Thailand are only selling to medical use patients? 

[Gottfrid]

And another Brit, and another Brit, and another Brit bites the dust!

[Peabody]

Didn't I just read a story during the last week about several people trying to smuggle out (44kg?) of ganja but couldn't be charged for some reason, like that was a gray area of some sort??