Crime Brit Caught with Cocaine Stash While Overstaying Visa on Samui

[ChrisKC]

16 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

I am very glad to say I have no idea what the price of illegal drugs is

[renaissanc]

15 hours ago, Purdey said:

His family will be so proud of him. Anyone who has visited a Thai prison will know how bad they are. 25 to a cell? Yurgh.

I think it's much more than 25. 25 would be luxurious for a Thai prison. 

[Mike_Hunt]

It's astonishing that people choose to get involved with drugs in Southeast Asia.

[CecilM]

16 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

Unless you googled that one bag = 0.6gr, I would be worried you knew... 😉 555

[renaissanc]

As a rule, if you're going to break the law in Thailand,  make sure you can tolerate a Thai prison for 5+++ years first.

[ronster]

Wonder what traffic law he was flouting ,  as unless he was trying to just ride through a checkpoint I don't see them bothering much .

As for his fairytale about the drugs , if he bought them outside a bar then go check that bar CCTV as most businesses in chaweng on beach road will have them .

If he also paid 4000 per bag for 0.6g a bag then he either knows nothing about drugs or has money to burn. Which would then raise the question why he didn't get a new visa if had money to burn .

Seems more than likely to me he was the one selling it and was ripping off buyers to fund his stay . Somehow the police believed his story 🤔

[riverhigh]

28 years old? Is it just me but when I saw his photo I thought he was in hes fifties. A warn out drug addict with no constructive goals in life. A real no-hoper! 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

16 hours ago, Packer said:

 

But missed the 120 kilos wrapped around his waist. 

 

 

 

The Kate Moss Weight Loss diet obviously doesn't work for everyone. The Thai prison one might just though.

Indeed fish head soup and rice isn't exactly gourmet food!!😊

[save the frogs]

he looks like he's in his 50s.

does cocaine age you faster? 

 

[black tabby12345]

16 hours ago, smedly said:

and how was he funding his iilegal stay in Thailand since October ?

 

hmmmm

 

Looks like he isn't a merely a consumer of the narcotic he got.

But also a retailer?

[ElwoodP]

Flame removed.

[hunkidori]

Doubt it was a traffic violation that prompted the search my bet is the Thai guy who he bought the stuff from was working for the cops.

[Dr B]

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Been answered before enough times in other threads - I really should have that answer saved to keep for you when you repeat the same question across threads... 

 

The involvement of British nationals in wrongdoing in Thailand is not necessarily disproportionately high compared to other nationalities. While British nationals are often highlighted in media stories about negative behavior, this is largely a perception driven by factors like the volume of British tourists, media coverage, and social media amplification, rather than an actual overrepresentation of Brits behaving poorly.

 

The reasons a varied - but here's a go a them... 

 

Higher Number of British Tourists:

The UK is one of the largest sources of international tourists to Thailand, so there are simply more British nationals in the country. Statistically, if more Brits are visiting, the number of incidents involving them will naturally be higher, even if the rate of wrongdoing isn’t disproportionately higher compared to other nationalities.

 

Selective Media Coverage:

British media tends to focus more on their nationals abroad, especially when the incidents are controversial or sensational. This creates a skewed perception, making it seem like British tourists are more involved in wrongdoing than others. Media outlets often highlight the "bad behavior" of British nationals, feeding into the stereotype, even though tourists from other countries may be involved in similar incidents that just don't get the same media attention.

 

Social Media Dynamics:

British tourists are very active on social media, and when incidents occur, they often share them online. This increases the visibility of the situation, contributing to a greater perception that Brits are more involved in wrongdoing. Other nationalities may not post or share their experiences as widely, leading to an underrepresentation of negative incidents involving them.

 

Cultural and Behavioral Factors:

While British tourists may sometimes engage in behaviors that are considered out of place in Thailand (like drinking excessively or disrespecting local customs), these behaviors are not necessarily worse or more frequent than those of tourists from other countries. However, British nationals, especially those engaged in party scenes, may sometimes draw more attention for their behavior due to cultural expectations or stereotypes.

 

Volume vs. Proportion:

Because of the sheer number of British tourists in Thailand, their involvement in incidents might seem disproportionately high. However, in reality, this is likely just a statistical artifact—with more Brits in Thailand, the number of incidents involving them will naturally be higher, but this doesn’t mean they’re behaving inappropriately at a rate higher than other nationalities.

 

Other Nationalities and Arrests:

In contrast, tourists from other countries, such as Russians and Chinese, may be arrested more frequently in Thailand for various reasons (such as involvement in illegal activities or visa violations). However, these incidents often don't get as much coverage in social media. This lack of visibility can be attributed to a British-centric media focus—where stories involving British nationals tend to dominate, especially when those stories are sensational or controversial. As a result, while tourists from other countries may actually be involved in more serious or more frequent legal trouble, these stories don’t get the same media attention, contributing to the perception that Brits are more prone to misbehaving.

 

Media Imitation and Amplification:

When one high-profile incident involving a British national gets reported in Thai media, it can create a snowball effect, encouraging other outlets to cover similar stories. Media organisations often look for stories that have already gained some traction, as they are more likely to attract attention and generate clicks. If a story about a British tourist misbehaving or breaking local laws goes viral or gains significant attention, other media outlets, both in Thailand and internationally, are more likely to pick it up.

This "copycat reporting" phenomenon can lead to the perception that these incidents are happening more frequently than they actually are. Once one incident is reported, it can lead to more stories being covered, even if they are not directly related or involve similar circumstances. This amplifies the public's perception that British tourists are more prone to trouble in Thailand.

 

Social Media Contagion:

Social media plays a huge role in spreading stories quickly, especially those involving shocking or scandalous behavior. Once an incident involving a British tourist begins to gain traction on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, it can quickly become viral. As more people share, comment, and post about it, the incident reaches a wider audience, often including media outlets that rely on trending stories for their coverage.

The contagion effect here is the spread of attention from one incident to another. When a story involving a British national attracts large numbers of views or shares, others may follow suit, either because of the subject's inherent controversy or because the incident fits into a broader narrative (e.g., "British tourists misbehaving in Thailand"). This can create a loop where media and social media outlets continuously highlight similar stories.

 

Stereotype Reinforcement:

When incidents involving British nationals are widely reported, it can reinforce negative stereotypes about them, such as being disrespectful or uninformed about local customs. As these stories are repeated and amplified, they start to feed into the contagion effect, where more tourists (including Brits) may begin to engage in similar behaviors, consciously or unconsciously. This could be due to the belief that certain behaviors are acceptable or "expected" when visiting a destination like Thailand, further driving the cycle.

 

Focus on "Foreign" Behavior:

The focus on British nationals may also be part of a broader media tendency to report more on “foreign” behavior, especially when it contrasts with local norms. Stories involving tourists, especially from countries with cultural or behavioral differences, often get more attention. The more a certain type of incident gets reported—like a British tourist acting inappropriately or breaking the law—the more other similar incidents may get covered, thus perpetuating the cycle.

Now, that was a lot for you to read - so I'm expecting a one line flippant reply thats neither eloquent or remotely intelligent (and there's a reason I tucked this last comment away in the paragraph because I know you won't read this far !).

I think there is one other major factor that you have missed Richard, and that is language. Most of the reports of British bad behaviour, whether in the media or social media, can be derived in the English language and they are what searching in English will find. Media and social media reports in Chinese, Russian, German, Italian, Swedish of Hindi are much less likely to catch the eye of the ThaiTiger and AN searchers are they not?

[Dr B]

47 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Unless you googled that one bag = 0.6gr, I would be worried you knew... 😉 555

Maybe he just stayed at school longh enough to be able to work out that 1.8/3 = 0.6, but then I am a rocket scientist.

[Old Croc]

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

1 hour already - how have the Brit-bashers not jumped all over this already... 

 

They would usually be all over this like an 'Auntie' at an all you can eat shrimp buffet... 

 

... bet they'll pee a little when they read the headline... 

It's hard to keep up, there's a backlog of incidents that need highlighting.

[renaissanc]

17 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

 

17 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

It's probably a "farang" price.

[renaissanc]

17 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

 

17 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

It's probably a "farang" price.

He looks much older than 28 to me. 50-ish maybe. Or maybe he likes to eat lots of fast food and processed "food".

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A British man has been arrested on the idyllic island of Koh Samui after police discovered him in possession of cocaine and an expired visa.

 

The incident unfolded around 5pm on Wednesday, when local police spotted the man flouting traffic regulations on Chaweng beach. Despite attempting to evade capture, officers caught up with him on Wat Phang Bua-Sanam Bin Road, not far from the airport.

 

The man in question is 28-year-old Michael Philip Martin. Upon searching him, police found three sachets of cocaine weighing a total of 1.8 grams stashed in his shoulder bag. Martin was promptly detained and taken to Bor Phud police station for further investigation.

 

Martin confessed during questioning that he had purchased the cocaine from a Thai national in front of a Chaweng beach pub the previous night.

 

 

 

He revealed the going rate for his illicit purchases was 4,000 baht per sachet. Furthermore, police scrutiny of his passport uncovered that Martin's visa had expired the previous October.

 

He now faces charges for possession of a Category 2 narcotic drug and illegally overstaying his visa. This bust highlights the police's continued vigilance in clamping down on drug activities and visa violations to maintain law and order on the island.

 

As the legal proceedings unfold, Martin's case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to local laws for both residents and visitors in Thailand.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-04-24

 

 

 

Out out out with him and no return ever👍🙏

[watchcat]

18 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

4000 baht for 0.6 gram that sounds like Hella expensive 😂 

 

Maximum street prices for addicts.

[watchcat]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to local laws for both residents and visitors in Thailand.

 

Indeed use methamphetamine very cheap but you could get stupid using it long time.

[jippytum]

if you are on overstay and carrying drugs best not to bring attention to yourself by flouting traffic regulations. 

[flexomike]

18 hours ago, Hellfire said:

RTP will sodomize him now.

you speaking from experience?, now I understand why you were so upset about your DUI detention

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Dr B said:

I think there is one other major factor that you have missed Richard, and that is language. Most of the reports of British bad behaviour, whether in the media or social media, can be derived in the English language and they are what searching in English will find. Media and social media reports in Chinese, Russian, German, Italian, Swedish of Hindi are much less likely to catch the eye of the ThaiTiger and AN searchers are they not?

Lame excuse 🤣

[ujayujay]

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

1 hour already - how have the Brit-bashers not jumped all over this already... 

 

They would usually be all over this like an 'Auntie' at an all you can eat shrimp buffet... 

 

... bet they'll pee a little when they read the headline... 

Nonsense, such Brits provoke the bashers themselves. Once again, the reversal from perpetrator to victim

[Mad Mustang]

Fake News. The media keep describing Koh Samui as Idyllic. I couldn't wait to get out of the unkempt, overpriced, over crowded, over hyped place. As for Michael Martin - Stupid is as stupid does

[loong]

Is 1.8 gr a lot?
Doesn't sound like a stash to me. A stash is usually a large amount and hidden somewhere, not in a pocket.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

I am very glad to say I have no idea what the price of illegal drugs is

Cannabis 10bht/GM, 1/2 gram is a good night out.

Yaba/yaice 10bht/tab, one tab keeps you dancing all night.

 

Don't know anyone that can afford cocaine, it's not widely popular in Thailand.

[goldenbrwn1]

12 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Why don´t you hear this same much about for example, French, German, Spanish, US people or other nationalities?

Algorithmic and the fact that ASEANNow get their news from English language news outlets. I won’t also say what I spoke of the other day , but it  does seem to always have the nationality in the headline when it’s a Brit, even for petty crime.  Why not just foreigner like most others??

      Yes there’s a lot more idiot Brits here over the last few years and this is because the herb is still illegal in the UK . And with the man bag crew comes the market for other substances.  I get laughed at a lot on here when I mention the legalisation of weed is bringing the “riffraff “ from the UK but it’s facts , many come here for a cheap holiday covering expenses by posting weed back to the UK, some come here on a free holiday to be used as mules to bring weed back to the Uk and some stay and make a lot of money sending back to the UK.    
   They aren’t hard to spot either  , sliders and socks, man bag and usually shirtless.  As a Brit myself (ex SAS of course)  who likes a drink it’s plainly obvious to see.  Also now with  laxed visa rules it’s no wonder the usual Magaluf lot are now hitting Thailand.

[goldenbrwn1]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't know anyone that can afford cocaine, it's not widely popular in Thailand.

Didn't used to be mate but now there’s a market for it

[kiwikeith]

18 hours ago, smedly said:

and how was he funding his iilegal stay in Thailand since October ?

 

hmmmm

 

18 hours ago, smedly said:

and how was he funding his iilegal stay in Thailand since October ?

 

hmmmm

pretty obvious, he was likely to be selling it on. But yet another bullet proof idiot selling coke with no visa and making an obstacle of himself, probably dobbed in by GF or someone he upset