British, Romanian, Dutch Nationals Arrested in Second Samui Airport Cannabis Bust

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

Authorities at Samui International Airport on the picturesque island of Koh Samui have made yet another substantial cannabis bust. Four foreign nationals were apprehended on Thursday, attempting to transport 110 kg of cannabis buds in suitcases intended for overseas destinations.

 

This incident quickly follows the previous day's arrest of five other foreign individuals caught with 144 kg of cannabis at the same airport. The bust highlights a concerning trend, with officials suspecting an organised smuggling operation targeting international markets.

 

On Thursday, airport security, using X-ray scanning technology, discovered the illicit haul concealed within seven suitcases.

 

The four arrested individuals -

British nationals Shaun Eric Bainbridge, 36;

Mark Searonsmith, 23;

Romanian Paul Marian David, 48;

Dutch citizen Faesel Martires Modest, 58;

were en route to Hong Kong. Their final destinations were the United Kingdom and Germany.

 

Under interrogation, the suspects revealed they were enticed with an all-expense-paid trip to Thailand. The only condition? They agreed to transport several suitcases upon departure.

 

According to their admissions, a Thai individual delivered the suitcases to their hotel, with the promise of payment awaiting them upon successful completion of the delivery.

 

Charges have been lodged against the four detainees for attempting to smuggle cannabis without completing requisite customs formalities, in violation of the Traditional Medicine Wisdom Protection Act. Currently, the suspects are held at Koh Samui's Bo Phut police station as investigations deepen.

 

Pol Col Denduang Thongsrisook, overseeing the case at Bo Phut station, noted striking similarities between the two consecutive arrests, suggesting a potential connection.

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online.

 

The prior day's arrests involved four British nationals and a Malaysian, found with seven suitcases containing a total of 144 kg of cannabis. In just 48 hours, authorities have intercepted a staggering 254 kg of cannabis, with nine suspects now in custody.

 

The economic implications of these seizures are significant. Locally valued at 45,000 Thai Baht per kilogramme, these cannabis buds could fetch prices tenfold higher on the international black market. Police and customs officials remain vigilant, seeking to unearth those orchestrating and recruiting participants for this audacious smuggling operation, reported Bangkok Post.

 

RELATED TOPIC:
Cannabis Bust at Koh Samui Airport: Brits and Malaysian Nabbed

https://aseannow.com/topic/1354496-cannabis-bust-at-koh-samui-airport-brits-and-malaysian-nabbed/

 

-- 2025-03-15

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

According to their admissions, a Thai individual delivered the suitcases to their hotel, with the promise of payment awaiting them upon successful completion of the delivery.

 

Nine people caught smuggling drugs over the Full Moon Party period.

Maybe organised from KPN.

Lots of cannabis plantations can be seen when riding around the island.

[ChaiyaTH]

Local value is 10-15K per KG or 20-30K if buying just a few KG.

[ChaiyaTH]

7 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Nine people caught smuggling drugs over the Full Moon Party period.

Maybe organised from KPN.

Lots of cannabis plantations can be seen when riding around the island.

Are you a full retard or what? You think this weed comes from air grown weed plants on phangan island? LOL. Like all the weed from shops comes from growing plants that are mainly based on the mainland, obviously. 

But hey yeah, I guess there is a secret garden on Phangan where hippies fill up indoor compressed weed in the tune of hundreds of kilo's... 

[ChaiyaTH]

As of reading they pay people to do it in bunches, we could safely assume that a few would have made it trough as well? In that case we have a issue as there will be enough profits and enough idiots in europe to keep doing this. They likely are told they get away with nothing as it is just weed too, which is wrong.

Anything above even 400 grams in Thailand you would need a license when carrying it around. Which btw is a very decent limit, I always buy per 100 grams myself at 25 baht a gram. And yes we are talking the 'top shelf' that costs 400-600 baht retail for tourists.

 

A 100KG transfer would be worth like 500K-1M USD in Europe. Damn, I mean that kind of explains people taking the risk I guess, you could be retired at one trip while it is just weed. So if organized crime does this already with paying people their trips, you can be sure they would do up to dozens of people at once from all airports in the same day and some make it trough.

 

Once again the failure of Thailand to properly legalize things and have proper licensed growers etc in place. There is no control at all now. Then next in politics the ordinary shop owner and smoker will be blamed for it again or has to pay the price etc.

 

I guess the combination of cheap rent, cheap electric + all hardware from China around the corner is very interesting for weed growers. As it otherwise makes little sense, they could do it in eastern europe or europe in general too + ship over land safer. Just like hasj coming from marocco.

 

Unless all this is 90% focused on the UK, i guess it is. In that case the retail value is even up to 2.5M USD. Maybe the solution is that the UK legalizes it, makes it worthless for criminals to be interested in it. Same as that is in Thailand a open market, a benefit of little regulation, what started with 400 baht per gram being normal is now already down to 20-30 baht. Same as with parhma medicine..

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Nine people caught smuggling drugs over the Full Moon Party period.

So that means they miss on nine people on all other days when not checking security that much? :D

[bunnydrops]

I don't know what it is like in other countries but I would say at least 75% of the time I go back to the US, I find that little note inside my luggage telling me that it was opened by customs. I would be nuts to try and smuggle that much weed.

[Patong2021]

Why would anyone  try to smuggle cannabis into Germany?  It is readily available. Since 1 April 2024, it has been legal for adults in Germany to possess 25 grams (7⁄8 oz) or less of cannabis in public, up to 50 grams (1¾ oz) of dried cannabis in private and have up to three flowering cannabis plants at home. Adult only non-profit cannabis social clubs were legalised in Germany on 1 July 2024.

Why would anyone  try to smuggle cannabis into the UK, when every region has  a grow op? It isn't expensive, even if illegal. The plod don't even bother with Cannabis possession offences now. It's usually a ticket if one is being a pest. 

 

[KireB]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

As of reading they pay people to do it in bunches, we could safely assume that a few would have made it trough as well? In that case we have a issue as there will be enough profits and enough idiots in europe to keep doing this. They likely are told they get away with nothing as it is just weed too, which is wrong.

Anything above even 400 grams in Thailand you would need a license when carrying it around. Which btw is a very decent limit, I always buy per 100 grams myself at 25 baht a gram. And yes we are talking the 'top shelf' that costs 400-600 baht retail for tourists.

 

A 100KG transfer would be worth like 500K-1M USD in Europe. Damn, I mean that kind of explains people taking the risk I guess, you could be retired at one trip while it is just weed. So if organized crime does this already with paying people their trips, you can be sure they would do up to dozens of people at once from all airports in the same day and some make it trough.

 

Once again the failure of Thailand to properly legalize things and have proper licensed growers etc in place. There is no control at all now. Then next in politics the ordinary shop owner and smoker will be blamed for it again or has to pay the price etc.

 

I guess the combination of cheap rent, cheap electric + all hardware from China around the corner is very interesting for weed growers. As it otherwise makes little sense, they could do it in eastern europe or europe in general too + ship over land safer. Just like hasj coming from marocco.

 

Unless all this is 90% focused on the UK, i guess it is. In that case the retail value is even up to 2.5M USD. Maybe the solution is that the UK legalizes it, makes it worthless for criminals to be interested in it. Same as that is in Thailand a open market, a benefit of little regulation, what started with 400 baht per gram being normal is now already down to 20-30 baht. Same as with parhma medicine..

 

We have inspector Clouseau among us.