1 hour ago, BusyB said:

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

They wouldn't, neither would they bother importing cannabis to the UK. The cannabis market in the Uk is generally under the control of Albanian gangs who supply it with home grown cannabis , no need to import, Plus they would not take kindly to others moving in on their business, although a suitcase full is neither here nor there'

Its all down to him and some half wit mates

There is a picture on his FB dated 3rd September, which looks like Thailand. It's a apartment with a private pool in front of the apartment overlooking the ocean. Begs the question why a coercing criminal gang would put him up in such a luxurious place for at least 7 weeks. More believable he was offered a holiday in return for carrying the drugs back.

On 1/8/2026 at 9:37 AM, CHdiver said:

GB really should have a look at the education system. It looks like they don't educate but make them dumber. How many more youngster do you have to catch with drugs before it sinks in with them? Maybe they lack basic reading knowledge?

You would be talking about Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok, not the GB educational system. 🙂

6 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

hes singing like canary to the Feds

It's the UK, which is not a federation. Thus there are no "Feds" in this scenario. (There's undoubtedly a UK equivalent, however.)

On 1/8/2026 at 9:37 AM, CHdiver said:

GB really should have a look at the education system. It looks like they don't educate but make them dumber. How many more youngster do you have to catch with drugs before it sinks in with them? Maybe they lack basic reading knowledge?

I agree, their definitely following the American model there nowadays 😕

11 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.

Good point. This is the same parent who is alleging that her son was manipulated and is otherwise "under the control of an English man." I am sure the relevant authorities in the UK that have been tasked with investigating this are taking a deep dive into these rather strange claims.

On a flight last February from Amsterdam to Bangkok, the young English guy in the next seat admitted that not only was this his first trip to Thailand, it was his first trip outside Middlesbrough. He said he was 21 and him and his mate were making like gangbusters in the roofing business, so he was taking a well-earned holiday. But only for five days and beyond having a Bangkok hotel booking, he didn't have any idea of where the hotel was and what he would be doing on his holiday. This kid was so naive, he was surprised when the cabin crew served lunch, and he asked me if he would need to pay for it.

At the time, I thought such naive, traveling youth was refreshing. But now, with all these British youngsters getting caught with drugs, I wonder if this 'mule' managed to deliver the goods?

80 foreigners picked out in the airport!?! Gotta be a record!

£420 (5555!) a pound in the UK for anything decent. Better hash market. One of the few countries left, along with Canada, Denmark & Italy who appreciate a fine terroir instead of sledgehammer weed.

Yep, before you leave, inform your Embassy and the Thai police. Bet you won’t get a chance to tell the authorities at the other end because you’ll be banged up here!

That’s what you get for picking the cheapest flight. Most couriers are either desperate for money to pay off some critical expense or forced by coercion, threats and blackmail.

Less suspicion if you’re traveling from a death penalty country.

I hope the amount of dope isn’t as heavy as that fish. C’mon, a suitcase full of ganja. No human born is as stupid as that!

Qatar is a death penalty country for drugs and a haven for Hamas leaders skimming Palestinians’ money.

Muslims are not supposed to drink so they often smoke ganja or opium, even though both are illegal. I saw it with my own eyes in Iran (and got out of there right rapidly!).

AN sure reeks of vengeance. Take ‘em out, hang ‘em high, firing squad, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection—all at once, preferably. Put an electric chair in the gas chamber, noose above. Put on the noose, pump in the Nembutal. Fire a round, turn on the juice. Fill the chamber with gas. That’ll make sure this dunce is dead, dead, dead.

'Bigoted' morons is too polite. Pathetic losers, you lot, making fun of the kid’s name. Could be your kid, you know!

1 hour ago, BexMan said:

There is a picture on his FB dated 3rd September, which looks like Thailand. It's a apartment with a private pool in front of the apartment overlooking the ocean. Begs the question why a coercing criminal gang would put him up in such a luxurious place for at least 7 weeks. More believable he was offered a holiday in return for carrying the drugs back.

If you have followed most of the previous headlines where mules get busted, prepaid, high-end accomodation is part of their incitement to travel here and break the law. This was heavily publicised in the case of the young, pregnant English woman arrested in Georgia last year, en-route to the UK with 14 kg of drugs in her checked baggage that she claims she had no clue about. Her far east travels, arranged by some ex-boyfriend that her parents allegedly had never met, included a few weeks over in the Philippines.

11 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Most couriers are either desperate for money to pay off some critical expense or forced by coercion, threats and blackmail.

Or greedy.

9 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Qatar is a death penalty country for drugs and a haven for Hamas leaders skimming Palestinians’ money.

Note that Hamas's leadership were evicted from Qatar last November, and are now squatting somewhere in Turkey.

Meanwhile, back on topic...

11 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'm thinking the contact in Thailand is a family relative. Possibly an uncle. For all we know, the whole family is dodgy.

A bit like the Schapelle Corby saga in Bali. The parent were real bogans. From memory, the father was a convicted drug dealer in Australia.

Of course the young brit drug courrier does not have the full name and address details of his "handler ?" Nevertheless, on a different context, this is a good reminder as to never...never accept to carry even an innocent looking parcel for anybody, be it friend on family, unless you can fully examine the contents.

35 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Of course the young brit drug courrier does not have the full name and address details of his "handler ?" Nevertheless, on a different context, this is a good reminder as to never...never accept to carry even an innocent looking parcel for anybody, be it friend on family, unless you can fully examine the contents.

Since a seriously doubt that there's anyone younger than a Gen-Z on these forum pages, who exactly is the target of your infinitely sensible and logical reminder?

The Brit is lucky he got busted in Qatar and not in Thailand and to end up in the ladyboy unit of Bangkok Hilton.

13 hours ago, Qarsaan said:

Looks like another good reason to stop the easy availability of cannabis, etc, in Thailand.

Why??? because this kid broke the law?

14 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

Another one " forced " to smuggle Cannabis from Thailand, strange how every one who is caught uses the same excuse, the rise in Cannabis smuggling from Thailand skyrocketed once it was legalised, and attracted criminal enterprises from around the globe, due to its cheap price in Thailand, it certainly attracted the " Quality Tourists " that TAT was hoping to entice to visit the country, but a serious question is, the weed shops that are selling these large multiple Kilo amounts of weed, and im presuming they also Vacuum pack them, must know its not for personnal use, so should they be implicated in the smuggling operation also? I hope he enjoys his extended visit to Qatar, might teach him a well earnt lesson, and as for his Go Fund me page to help with his legal bills, im sure the people he was forced to smuggle weed for, will be more than happy to help.....

ProTip: The PoPo xrays bags looking for weed at Swampy. They drop dimes to the cops in the first destination.

Pro Tip: If you are going to smuggle weed, fly direct to your home country.

13 hours ago, twizzian said:

He can always say that one word “No”

Well he's British, so it should be "No thank you"

On 1/8/2026 at 9:41 AM, kimamey said:

I don't know if he's lying or not, but presumably your opinion is based on some understanding of the case.

It's very normal for a

13 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Agreed, so why do smugglers do stop overs there?

Because they want to experience the world's best airline, Qatar and also one of the best airports, Hamad international. Once they realize that it does have one of the best baggage security inspection they probably get a bit disappointed.

26 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

ProTip: The PoPo xrays bags looking for weed at Swampy. They drop dimes to the cops in the first destination.

Pro Tip: If you are going to smuggle weed, fly direct to your home country.

Top Pro Tip - value your freedom and don't smuggle drugs. Simple. 🙂

15 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Well he's British, so it should be "No thank you"

and "But thank you for the free holiday."

I'm sure that would go down well. 🙂

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Well he's British, so it should be "No thank you"

Canuck here: "I'm sorry."

Since the legality of Cannabis in Thailand i have seen a raft of these young rough cheap British lads swarm into Thailand. They never came in the numbers like they do now. They are usually northerners from the poorer areas of the UK - walk around without tops on, treat locals like crap, moan about the food, and get very heavily intoxicated, drugs, violence.

Most of these British lads and lasses habitually used to holiday around Europe in cheapy trashy areas like Benidorm, Magaluf, Ibiza, etc ... hence the term 'Benidorm Brits'. They stand off a mile away, often referred to as 'chavs'.

The more you get to talk to them you are aware the attraction is cannabis and the drugs around, and ALOT plan to take some back with them, especially how openly they talk about it. ALOT are smuggling back.

There was a woman a few years ago who claimed in court a defense of 'family were threatened' when she got caught. She showed little evidence of the threats, could not identify anyone who threatened her. She got away with it. I knew then that would open the floodgates. Most likely these people who send these Benidorm Brits point that case out.

I have been stopped many times coming into Europe from flights from Thailand. Almost all say the flights from Thailand are a nightmare, and they place extra resources into checking these flights.

Benidorm Brits have wrecked Thailand. They make no attempt to get into the culture, and there sole purpose is to drink alot of alcohol, take alot of drugs, then smash someones face in at the end of the night for desert. They are scurge on Thailand.

My own opinion is this guy was probably approached in some manner - that he could earn such and such if he could do this. His flights may have even been paid for. If he cannot prove threats then you know it's nonsense.

I do feel for his parents though, who most likely will see past cases and do anything to help their little darling.

Why didn't he just go to the authorities in Thailand before he boarded the flight?

Now they have got him Hook Line and Sinker.

They just want to catch the Big Fish in their net.

But he is just a bottom feeder...

8 hours ago, ericthai said:

Why??? because this kid broke the law?

No. Because the authorities here and in the mules destination countries have been blindsided by the lack of Thai government control and law enforcement which has created a boom in the useful idiot mule industry.

Try and think outside your hazy wee box.

I just have 1 question and that is,,,are there any police stations in Scotland?? If the answer is yes then why didn't this kid along with family go and report the threats the them,,, ah yes that would make sense so as far as I'm concerned this is a load of crap he deserves to spend time in prison

Just now, wavodavo said:

On 1/9/2026 at 9:31 AM, 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 E

Education should start at home with the parents who advise their children right from wrong and what happens when you do something wrong. However in recent times a lot of the children are not chastised for being naughty and not punished because the parents want to be friends of their children . So they have a charned life and can do no wroNg and when they get out on heir own in the real world they make stupid decisions. It.s sad really but that's how it is and the family now has to go through the stress of trying to deal with it. I would have thought that an 18 year old lad travelling to Thailand on his own is a bit of a risk.

On 1/8/2026 at 7:49 PM, kimamey said:

A lot depends on whether he is telling the truth about being forced by threats to his family and himself. If it is true then I'm not sure how education and basic reading knowledge would help.

If I were part of a criminal gang wanting someone to transport drugs, and if all the warnings about getting caught were making it difficult to find couriers, I think coercion using threats, including to family members would be my first option.

How did a person this young get involved with criminals, I have to think he's not the brightest kid on the block.

If it's true I am amazed at how he's got into the situation in the first place.

Stupidity seems to be an answer, but wait and maybe we'll see more.

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Since the legality of Cannabis in Thailand i have seen a raft of these young rough cheap British lads swarm into Thailand

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Most of these British lads and lasses habitually used to holiday around Europe in cheapy trashy areas like Benidorm, Magaluf, Ibiza, etc ... hence the term 'Benidorm Brits'. They stand off a mile away, often referred to as 'chavs'.

"benidorm brits" is a phrase used exclusively and repeatedly by only you, and you clearly have no idea what "chav" means or who it applies to.

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

The more you get to talk to them you are aware the attraction is cannabis and the drugs around, and ALOT plan to take some back with them, especially how openly they talk about it. ALOT are smuggling back

I think you have "a thing" for young shirtless, cheap northern british lads, why else would you spend hours on here hating on them , and then by your own admission attempt to engage them in casual conversation about their drug habits.. You clearly have issues and should have your hard drive checked by the authorities

"I have been stopped many times coming into Europe from flights from Thailand"

That does not surprise me , the airport authorities obviously have you marked as a "wrong'un" I have never had a problem at any airport in the world in over 50 years of travelling

There's an interesting article in the Daily Mail which might explain why all the smuggling is happening. Private clinics.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15406029/Thousands-Britons-prescribed-CANNABIS-mental-health-anxiety-depression-benefits-claimants-offered-discounts.html

No idea as to whether it's actually true or not. But it seems there is money to be made.

On 1/9/2026 at 9:49 AM, wensiensheng said:

..

IMHO normal people, doing normal jobs with normal social contacts don’t really come into contact with criminal gangs .

When I was 18 I was still in high school, studying. Simply no time to go on holidays. During school/university breaks I either had assignments or I was working on construction sites to make some pocket money. Simply because I had 10 more years of University ahead of me.

I had a good time though. Poor but happy. Same as all my friends around me.

One of the problem these days is that kids are on social media all the time and think they must take part of the glamour world right now. Like anyone else does. You are not part of BlingBling right NOW then you dumb. And you are missing out on LIFE.

The classical value system (study, work, save, health, social contacts,..) never got impregnated on them.

Thats not only their fault. We were supposed to teach them values.