3 hours ago, shackleton said:

A message needs to be sent out to others thinking of doing the same

Drugs don't pay

but just like "crime does not pay" that is not really true, for every person who gets caught hundreds get away with it, some make a lot of money

54 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

You don't have to believe it, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. Being that there are plenty of gangs here it's possible. Let's see what the cameras say. BUT, and I know he may have been scared to, why didn't he go to the police? Well, 18 is an age when you don't handle problems well or sensibly.

What cameras are you referring to ?

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

he, like everybody else, can do the crime and he will, whether he wants to or not

11 hours ago, norsurin said:

I don't believe his story at all.Now he will experience what he did and do the time as he deserves.

. -

So while many countries have the enlightment to legalize cannabis you feel he deserves harsh punishment?

14 minutes ago, neverere said:

A somewhat sensationalist piece of journalism, still with no mention of the amount of cannabis involved.

What news-blips aren't sensationalist, as they do want you to read it. Journalism in the 21st century, that's a stretch. All of it is simply entertainment now for ad revenue.

All sites are business sites. At least you don't have to pay for most, vs, having the daily newspaper delivered to your house, with old news by the time you read it. Not sure which is better.

Not that I read much of it now, or in the past. Just killin' time when it's crappy out.

Most young people think they will get away with it. Best thing is to approach customs before they stop you and inform on the criminals. They won't know until they're arrested in Bangkok.

Would a Qatar jail experience be preferable to a local-jail experience?

And, how would we rate these to prison/jail experiences?

And, what about the accommodations and food, and also exercise time?

I said no to drugs long ago, even before I reached age 20.

Drugs is just one more risk factor for experiencing jail time.

He's not in the fishing industry,that's his hobby. He's not an innocent kid,he's got form back in Scotland.

20 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

What news-blips aren't sensationalist, as they do want you to read it. Journalism in the 21st century, that's a stretch. All of it is simply entertainment now for ad revenue.

All sites are business sites. At least you don't have to pay for most, vs, having the daily newspaper delivered to your house, with old news by the time you read it. Not sure which is better.

Not that I read much of it now, or in the past. Just killin' time when it's crappy out.

Better to buy a science textbook.

Still old news, but you're not just killing time.

2 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

Smuggling syndicates don't splash out on airfares.

How do you know that?

He went to Thailand with an older man so maybe it was him who persuaded Lino that it would be a fun way to make money and have a great holiday! Drymen is not in the middle of nowhere so i don't see Lino as an innocent abroad.

Am sick to death of these idiots getting caught, and then moaning that they were forced to do it.(same as that girl whose parents had to fork out about 150 k to get her released in Georgia ) If he is so feeble minded why let him come to Thailand.

More likely scenario is they promised him a vacation in Thailand, some spending money, a hotel room. All he needed to do was carry some suitcases back. Kid got scared, reluctant to follow through, they had to threaten him, he complied and was caught.

If the threats were made in Europe he would have probably rolled over on them, went to the Police.

5 hours ago, sfbandung said:

The bit I am struggling with is if the destination was the UK, it just doesn't seem to be worth enough for anyone to be coercing anyone. I don't know what a suitcase full of ganja costs in the UK but I'm guessing it might be in the thousands or tens of thousands range. Enough for a young bloke who saw how dirt cheap and easy it was to buy in Thailand and could be a handy bit of pocket money if he could get some back home. I'm not buying the criminal gang story. I reckon a young bloke has rolled the dice, not thought ahead of the consequences, like young people do, or figured he would try to talk his way out of it if he did get nabbed.

It’s certainly possible

of course this story is complete BS, nobody can force me to carry anything on a plane and if I do then I must be braindead because the consequences are much worse.

1 hour ago, Scottie12 said:

He's not in the fishing industry,that's his hobby. He's not an innocent kid,he's got form back in Scotland.

A point I made in a previous post. Gangs don’t just pick on some random stranger and threaten them, he must have been known to them and it follows that he was involved in or close to some dubious business.

17 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

This doesn't make sense. Making threats against him while physically in Thailand - sure - but as soon as he left Thailand how exactly would they get to him or his family? They'd have to 1. Find out where he lives, 2. Find out who his family are to begin with, 3. Where they live, 4. After all that they would need boots on the ground in that locality. All of that to smuggle...cannabis? Nah, the more likely scenario is he was approached by someone with an offer, got convinced to do it (not threatened), and now that he's caught the backpedalling begins.

Neil’s mother shared her distress, highlighting that Lino had been under the control of a British man and was in fear for his safety and that of his family. Nicola claims that they threatened to harm her son if he did not comply with their demands.

If the man threatening him is British, then not very difficult, especially if its a gang or mobsters.

More questions than answers, even after reading other news reports. His family are pushing coercion by some British guy who was “ telling him what to do” whilst back in the UK and were suspicious about but still didn’t report it to the police or stop him from going. Something not mentioned in the report on here was the fact he only turned 18 in November and he and his girlfriend chose to come to Thailand to celebrate. How many 18year olds have the money to holiday in Thailand? His return flight was to Dublin too, supposedly because of cost and availability. The more you scratch the surface more questions appear but I think he, and maybe his family, are not telling the whole truth. The one thing undeniable is he was caught with the drugs and will face prosecution, whether coerced or not, and face the consequences. Qatar is zero tolerant with drugs and is likely to give him a severe jail term and large fine. He and his family, are going to have a long time to think about how he screwed up his young life so quickly.

6 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I am more concerned that any parent would allow a 17 year old to travel to Thailand unaccompanied by a responsible parent.

I left home at 15 - I gave them no choice. Mind you I wasn't happy there but that's another tale.

According to the article he was one of 80 people detained at the Doha airport........!

6 hours ago, sfbandung said:

The bit I am struggling with is if the destination was the UK, it just doesn't seem to be worth enough for anyone to be coercing anyone. I don't know what a suitcase full of ganja costs in the UK but I'm guessing it might be in the thousands or tens of thousands range. Enough for a young bloke who saw how dirt cheap and easy it was to buy in Thailand and could be a handy bit of pocket money if he could get some back home. I'm not buying the criminal gang story. I reckon a young bloke has rolled the dice, not thought ahead of the consequences, like young people do, or figured he would try to talk his way out of it if he did get nabbed.

Why would a pro drug gang choose the Middle East to transit their consignment?

Dublin, Georgia, I can follow. But Doha?

Sounds more like something maybe an amateur would risk. Who knows?

2 hours ago, neverere said:

A somewhat sensationalist piece of journalism, still with no mention of the amount of cannabis involved.

The Sun sensationalist? With no facts? I don't believe it.

13 hours ago, mlkik said:

Racist div

Is’nt it amazing how many racists raise the racist flag when there was absolutely no mention of racism anywhere in the post or replies

According to the reports, he actually told his mum about it when he was in Thailand.

But the very obvious implication is that he was involved in something dodgy beforehand. What was his job? He wasn't working as a fisherman. Likely he owed people money. Who paid for his 'girlfriend' to travel and why did she leave before him? Those dastardly criminals organised all of that?

On 1/8/2026 at 11:26 AM, webfact said:

They have already raised 108,300 Thai Baht (approximately £2,500) for legal representation.

Oh yeah! That´ll be sufficient. 😂

If they were going for his mother, then he had done something bad to them before. That´s just how these circles work.

Isn't this is what they all said when get caught...

the biggest question i always have is
why do they not fly direct?

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

According to the article he was one of 80 people detained at the Doha airport........!

Not unbelievable , people get detained all the time at airports for all sorts of reasons Doha is a large airport with many passengers passing through

10 hours ago, Briggsy said:

I take your point but it is my belief that it is not to do with education but to do with a belief that there will be no consequences that concern them. And often there aren't if they are caught with a suitcase full of cannabis in a European country.

even less consequences when they are not caught , which is generally the case

39 minutes ago, chuang said:

Isn't this is what they all said when get caught...

as excuses go its "trending""