Four More British Men Arrested with 131kg of Cannabis at Koh Samui Airport

[webfact]

Pictures courtesy of Amarin TV

 

Four British men arrested in an international marijuana smuggling operation, with 131kg of cannabis seized, as they prepared to fly out of Thailand from Koh Samui to the UK. They were found to have come to Thailand at no cost in exchange for transporting goods back, with the final price of 200,000 baht per kilogram.

 

On 16th March 2025, the Surat Thani Immigration Investigation Unit, in cooperation with Koh Samui Customs, Bo Phut Police Station, Koh Samui District Administration, and ISOC Region 4 (Koh Samui area), jointly arrested four foreign nationals along with eight suitcases containing a total of 131 kilograms of cannabis.

 

The arrested individuals were:

 

1. Mr Antony, 63 years old, British national, with two bags containing 29kg of cannabis.
2. Mr Billy, 37 years old, British national, with two bags containing 34kg of cannabis.
3. Mr Philld, 63 years old, British national, with two bags containing 34kg of cannabis.
4. Mr John, 34 years old, British national, with two bags containing 34kg of cannabis.

 

 

They were subsequently informed of the charges for attempting to take goods out of the Kingdom without undergoing the required customs procedures, in accordance with Sections 242, 252, 166, and 167 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560.

 

The case also involves offences under Section 78 in conjunction with Section 46 of the Act on the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medical Knowledge B.E. 2542 and the Ministry of Public Health's Announcement on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) B.E. 2565, dated 11th November 2022. They are being prosecuted at Bo Phut Police Station.

 

 

The investigation revealed that the suspects were hired by a foreign employer to pose as tourists and transport cannabis for sale abroad.

 

The employer arranged their travel tickets and accommodation in Thailand, where they were to receive the suitcases containing the cannabis. They were to transport the drugs out of Thailand by taking domestic flights to Koh Samui, before travelling from Koh Samui to Singapore and connecting to their final destination in the UK.

 

 

If successful, each individual would receive a fee of £2,000, approximately 86,000 Thai baht. Some suspects were also offered the chance to clear debts owed abroad by their employers.

 

In the last two days, a total of 375kg of cannabis in 22 bags has been seized, with a market value of 200,000 baht per kilogram if it were to reach its destination. The total value of the drugs seized amounts to nearly 75 million baht.

 

This significant amount of money serves as a powerful temptation for cannabis smugglers or international smuggling syndicates, who are willing to risk breaking the law in exchange for such substantial rewards.

 

Authorities are working together to crack down on cannabis smuggling operations in the area, ensuring that these criminals do not evade justice and escape to foreign countries. Investigations into the employers and other individuals involved in the operation within Thailand are ongoing, reported Amarin TV.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

 

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/

 

British, Romanian, Dutch Nationals Arrested in Second Samui Airport Cannabis Bust 
https://aseannow.com/topic/1354650-british-romanian-dutch-nationals-arrested-in-second-samui-airport-cannabis-bust/

 

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

 

 

-- 2025-03-17

 

 

---

 

 

 

[novacova]

What’s the deal with all these people lately stuffing their baggage with dope and trying to hop on a plane, is it that they’re so dumb down by using dope that they’ve lost all wherewithal?

[JoePai]

Has to be someone in the UK co-ordinating this, too many similarities

[Jeff the Chef]

WTF were they thinking, brain dead or what?

 

#Should think themselves lucky they were  not caught in Singapore I suppose.

 

Under Singaporean law, drug trafficking offences carry the mandatory death sentence with only narrow exceptions.

 

The employer arranged their travel tickets and accommodation in Thailand, where they were to receive the suitcases containing the cannabis. They were to transport the drugs out of Thailand by taking domestic flights to Koh Samui, before travelling from Koh Samui to Singapore and connecting to their final destination in the UK.

If successful, each individual would receive a fee of £2,000, approximately 86,000 Thai baht. Some suspects were also offered the chance to clear debts owed abroad by their employers.

 

[steven100]

there's certainly alot of dummies in the world now. 

[ChipButty]

Why dont they just let them through and let Singapore catch them sounds a better idea to me, 

[Tropicalevo]

16 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Why dont they just let them through and let Singapore catch them sounds a better idea to me, 

Then Singapore would brag and point out that Thailand had krappy border controls.

[advancebooking]

Braindead idiots flying to the uk via singapore? wtf. why not just take a direct flight to the uk to avoid the risk of an additional customs check in singapore. How incredibly stupid of them and the kingpin in the uk. Yes, if you are him reading this in the uk you are stupid. 

[DrJack54]

Bit off topic however has anyone considered making pot legal in places such as USA, UK etc

[dinsdale]

52 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Has to be someone in the UK co-ordinating this, too many similarities

Maybe it's got something to do with people struggling so much in the UK they're willing to do this but yes it a fair comment to say this is being coordinated. That's the end they need to find but from what I've seen the UK police are to busy arresting people for "hate speech" posts on social media.

[jvs]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit off topic however has anyone considered making pot legal in places such as USA, UK etc

I think it is not illegal by the letter of the law to have this much ganja in your suitcase but they tried to get around doing the right paperwork.

You still need a permit under the Herbal medicine law or something like that.

The problem is it is much cheaper to purchase it here now,taking the chance by going thru Singapore is the dumbest

thing i have ever seen.

 

[bendejo]

1 hour ago, novacova said:

What’s the deal with all these people lately stuffing their baggage with dope and trying to hop on a plane, is it that they’re so dumb down by using dope that they’ve lost all wherewithal?

A few years back it was Iranians smuggling out meth from Swampy.  Hardly a week went by without an incident of it in the press.  Made me wonder if they were buying the stuff at the duty-free.

 

 

[riclag]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

there's certainly alot of dummies in the world now. 

Imagine if the dumb brigade was caught in a capital punishment country.

 

I once met a retired drug smuggler!

Filthy rich ! Im always curious to

know how people have acquired their  fortune.

 

Thank god my life experience with recreational mind altering substances ,have passed and gone!

 

[Keeps]

I can only assume that they had not heard the news that there had been a couple of major busts at Samui airport in the previous few days.

 

If they had, and they still tried it, then they are even more stupid than I give them credit for.

[Woke to Sounds]

Lots of tatts in that photo.

 

All this for a lousy 2000 pounds?

 

Idiots.

[Gottfrid]

Dumbnuts! They deserve everything they get!

There are a lot of ways to safely get this out of the country with a 99% guarantee of success. Seems like they just enjoy losing a lot of millions.

[Keeps]

32 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit off topic however has anyone considered making pot legal in places such as USA, UK etc

I thought that cannabis was legal in around three quarters of USA states for medicinal purposes and about half the states for recreational use. 

[Keeps]

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Dumbnuts! They deserve everything they get!

There are a lot of ways to safely get this out of the country with a 99% guarantee of success. Seems like they just enjoy losing a lot of millions.

Makes you wonder just how much is getting out of the country though if 'they' can afford to lose consignments as large as this and the previous couple of busts at Samui airport. Over a third of a ton in the last four or five days. 

 

 

[Gottfrid]

1 minute ago, Keeps said:

Makes you wonder just how much is getting out of the country though if 'they' can afford to lose consignments as large as this and the previous couple of busts at Samui airport. Over a third of a ton in the last four or five days. 

 

 

Yeah, it´s amazing! In my opinion, it´s not how much they can lose. By using dumb nuts and methods like this, it seems like they want to lose it. Strange.

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Some suspects were also offered the chance to clear debts owed abroad by their employers.

 

"employers"    wonder if they were "cards in" 

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, advancebooking said:

How incredibly stupid of them and the kingpin in the uk. Yes, if you are him reading this in the uk you are stupid. 

maybe the "kingpin" is not so stupid ?   has he been caught?

[bendejo]

Once crossed into Cambodia and spent the night in a border town.  Next day on the minibus to PP got to talking about weed with some passengers.  A young European fellow with a mullet said some Aussies at his hotel had some great stuff the night before, said they went into Thailand that morning, taking their stash with them.  I flipped, it was back when T was originally PM (2003) and there was some gruesome police killings at the time relating to drugs, a shoot first and ask questions later thing.  Mullet boy said "what do you expect them to do, throw it away?"

uuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmm................

 

Assumption of intelligence is so passe.

 

 

[dinsdale]

Global decrimilisation or legalisation and this ceases to exist.

[potless]

2 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Under Singaporean law, drug trafficking offences carry the mandatory death sentence with only narrow exceptions.

Maybe that was their sponsors plan all along.

They owed money. He wanted rid of them. 

[Keeps]

Just now, potless said:

Maybe that was their sponsors plan all along.

They owed money. He wanted rid of them. 

Hugely reduced chance of getting his money back if he got rid of them.

[connda]

Stupid is as stupid does.  Enjoy Thai prison.

[IvorBiggun2]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Then Singapore would brag and point out that Thailand had krappy border controls.

 

Not if it were reported as a joint operation by both countries.

[jvs]

18 minutes ago, connda said:

Stupid is as stupid does.  Enjoy Thai prison.

I am not sure if this is something you go to jail for?

Not sure what laws apply here.

They are not caught with an illegal drug?

Does any one here know?

 

[bkk6060]

Idiots.

[theshu25]

25 minutes ago, potless said:

Maybe that was their sponsors plan all along.

They owed money. He wanted rid of them. 

Why would you get rid of some idiot becaus e   they owed you money?