British Man Held in Cambodia Over 20kg Airport Drug Bust

[geovalin]

 

A 41-year-old British man has been arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport after Cambodian authorities discovered nearly 20 kilograms of marijuana in his luggage. The drugs are believed to have been smuggled from neighbouring Thailand.

 

The arrest took place on 17 June at the airport’s departure terminal. Acting on intelligence and under the direction of Cambodia’s top anti-narcotics officials, police and customs officers intercepted the man as he attempted to travel with 22 bags of dried marijuana—amounting to 19.9kg.

 

Officials have confirmed that the operation was part of a wider crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking, launched under the command of General Sar Thet, head of the National Police, and senior figures from Cambodia’s Anti-Narcotics Department.

 

The suspect is now in custody and his case has been formally handed over to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for prosecution. Cambodian authorities stressed that marijuana trafficking, transportation, and cultivation remain strictly prohibited under the country’s 2012 Narcotics Control Law.

 

If convicted, the Briton could face severe penalties under Cambodian law, where drug offences carry long prison sentences and, in some cases, life imprisonment.

 

The arrest highlights ongoing concerns over Cambodia’s role as a transit hub in Southeast Asia’s regional drug trade, particularly with porous borders and well-worn trafficking routes connecting Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

 

British embassy officials have not yet commented on the case.

 

-2025-06-20

[soalbundy]

A bit of a silly Billy, I've read that Cambodian prisons are worse than those in  Thailand.

[bendejo]

No attempt to disguise it or any such subterfuge.

"Just pack it in the bag and off ya go!  What's your problem?"

 

[Harrisfan]

4 minutes ago, bendejo said:

No attempt to disguise it or any such subterfuge.

"Just pack it in the bag and off ya go!  What's your problem?"

 

Unbelievable how dumb these guys are

[newbee2022]

Head off probably. 👍

[Snackbar]

Insane or coercion 

[shackleton]

Thailand is getting a bad reputation for people to come and make easy money 💰 🤑 on smuggling drugs Ie Marijuana. ( Cannabis  )

To other countries 

 

[mikeymike100]

Crazy, risking maybe 10 years in a Cambodian prison, at least he won't get the death penalty!

[Blueman1]

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

Crazy, risking maybe 10 years in a Cambodian prison, at least he won't get the death penalty!

Are YOU Certain about That ??

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

 

 

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Crazy, risking maybe 10 years in a Cambodian prison, at least he won't get the death penalty!

 

That is correct.

 

For reference (google)

 

Any person who intentionally violates the provisions of this Law and regulations related to the export, import, international transportation of drugs which result in serious dangers, shall be punished 10 to 20 years imprisonment and with a fine penalty in cash of from 10,000,000 (ten million) riels to 50,000,000 (fifty ... (4,000 riels = 1$)

[VBF]

Once again a person from a country where he presumably had an educatuon and who probably (possibly?) has access to international news decides "Getting caught won't happen to me"  and goes drug smuggling.

 

How deep in the sand was his head to make such a decision? 

It actually amazes me - it's beyond Darwinian!

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

Are YOU Certain about That ??

Smuggling 20 kilograms of marijuana could result in 7 years to life imprisonment, with a likely sentence closer to 15–20 years or more, depending on judicial discretion, the defendant’s role (e.g., organizer vs. courier), and aggravating factors like intent to distribute. A 2025 case in Phnom Penh involving a British national caught with 20 kilograms of cannabis, reported on , June 20, 2025), faced charges that could lead to life imprisonment, indicating 20 kilograms is treated as a serious trafficking offense.

Fines: Courts may impose fines ranging from 10 million to 50 million Cambodian riel (approximately $2,500 to $12,500 USD), alongside asset seizure related to the crime.

No Death Penalty: Unlike some Southeast Asian countries (e.g., Indonesia, Malaysia), Cambodia does not impose the death penalty for drug trafficking, as confirmed by legal sources and the absence of such penalties in reported cases.

[Anthony mellows]

Must be some getting through if these morons decide to risk it.

[sultan2011]

22 hours ago, soalbundy said:

A bit of a silly Billy, I've read that Cambodian prisons are worse than those in  Thailand.

Yeah..and no time deducted for good behaviour...and no agreement with the UK to complete a sentence there..spose a Kings Pardon is all you could hope for.

[wavodavo]

21 hours ago, shackleton said:

Thailand is getting a bad reputation for people to come and make easy money 💰 🤑 on smuggling drugs Ie Marijuana. ( Cannabis  )

To other countries 

 

Why is that so you might ask. The answer is legalisation in thailand. Anybody can walk out of their hotel and look left and right and they have a choice of which shop  to go to. I am not against weed and if you want to smoke it good luck to you but now with shops on every street corner where as before you might have had to fish around for it the temptation is there for people that would not be interested in it to try and make a quick dollar.a lot  of these smuggling cases have come up lately and you've gotta wonder how they get past thai authorities as they depart.

[blaze master]

23 hours ago, bendejo said:

No attempt to disguise it or any such subterfuge.

"Just pack it in the bag and off ya go!  What's your problem?"

 

 

Its just zip lock bags too. He could have at least used Grove bags.

[phetphet]

21 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Crazy, risking maybe 10 years in a Cambodian prison, at least he won't get the death penalty!

Ten years in a Cambodian prison is likely to be a death penalty.

[HappyExpat57]

6 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Ten years in a Cambodian prison is likely to be a death penalty.

You beat me to it.

[Harrisfan]

21 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Crazy, risking maybe 10 years in a Cambodian prison, at least he won't get the death penalty!

Death be better. 30 guys in a room with a hole to crap in. 

[bendejo]

Let's see how much $$$ friends and family can muster.  In Cambodia products with names like Benz and Rolex can make favorable impressions.  

 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, bendejo said:

Let's see how much $$$ friends and family can muster.  

 

He's a Brit... they will start a gofundme.