A 64-year-old British man has been arrested in Bangkok after police allegedly caught him selling cocaine to tourists in the Sukhumvit area. Officers detained the suspect near Sukhumvit Soi 13 and seized around 400 grams of cocaine along with smaller quantities of MDMA and crystal meth. Authorities say the drugs were intended for distribution in one of the capital’s busiest nightlife districts.

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Police identified the suspect as Phillip Thomas Lingwood, aged 64. The arrest took place late on 6 March after officers received information from an informant that a foreign man matching his description was selling drugs in Sukhumvit Soi 13 in Bangkok’s Watthana district.

Officers from the patrol division set up surveillance in the area and spotted the suspect leaving a residential building while carrying a black and green paper bag. Police approached him near the entrance of the soi at around 22:30 and carried out a search.

During the search, officers reportedly found a block of cocaine hidden inside the paper bag. They also discovered 17 small bags of cocaine weighing about 19 grams concealed inside a white and green cylindrical container in his trouser pocket.

Police said they also recovered three bags of powdered MDMA weighing around 2 grams from another container in his other pocket. The suspect was detained at the scene before officers conducted a further search of his apartment on the 20th floor of a nearby building in Sukhumvit Soi 13.

During the apartment search, officers reportedly discovered additional quantities of crystal meth and MDMA. They also seized a digital scale and plastic packaging materials believed to have been used to divide narcotics for sale.

According to police, the suspect admitted during questioning that the drugs belonged to him and were intended for customers. Officers said he was about to deliver the narcotics when he was stopped.

Police also asked the suspect to produce his passport but said he was unable to show one at the time of the arrest. Authorities stated that he may have been staying in Thailand without proper immigration documentation.

The suspect now faces several charges under Thai law. These include possession of cocaine for sale, possession of MDMA and crystal meth without authorisation, illegal drug use and staying in the Kingdom without permission.

The case is part of ongoing efforts by Thai authorities to tackle drug trafficking in central Bangkok, particularly in nightlife areas popular with tourists and expatriates. Police have previously warned that narcotics offences in Thailand carry severe legal penalties.

Khaosod reported that the suspect and the seized evidence have been handed to investigators at Lumpini Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities say the investigation will continue to determine whether other individuals were involved.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 8 Mar 2026

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Rule 1 of drug dealing. Dont carry almost a half kilo of the product while selling dime bags.

What a spoon.

Arrested with around 400g of cocaine allegedly intended for sale to tourists!

"... the suspect admitted during questioning that the drugs belonged to him and were intended for customers..."

That quantity would almost certainly be treated by prosecutors as possession for distribution, not personal use.

If the allegations are proven, it looks like the high life on Sukhumvit Soi 31 has come to an abrupt end.

He may soon be swapping a comfortable condo for rather more basic accommodation at the Bangkok Hilton.

when desperate people do stupid things, if he couldn't afford to live here he would have been better off returning home, now he will spend the rest of his days in a Thai jail, what an idiot

The victim of a frozen UK pension.

Just another Brit making the news for criminal activity in Thailand. What would the morning be without getting that confirmed? It´s Chinese, Israelis, Brits and Russians that are in the top section of the Leaderboard. Let the tournament commence! First prize 20 years, Second 12 years, Third 8........and so on......

19 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Just another Brit making the news for criminal activity in Thailand. What would the morning be without getting that confirmed? It´s Chinese, Israelis, Brits and Russians that are in the top section of the Leaderboard. Let the tournament commence! First prize 20 years, Second 12 years, Third 8........and so on......

DId you forget yesterdays naked Nordic tasering?

3 hours ago, smedly said:

when desperate people do stupid things, if he couldn't afford to live here he would have been better off returning home, now he will spend the rest of his days in a Thai jail, what an idiot

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

The victim of a frozen UK pension.

Desperate ... Victim ... that's funny

I don't think so, as half kg of coke isn't exactly cheap. Stupid is best description for him. Now he doesn't have to worry about room & board the rest of his life.

400 grams? He must have had a high turnover to have that amount. Someone is out of pocket for a lot of money to lose that.

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

DId you forget yesterdays naked Nordic tasering?

No, I didn´t, but we are far down the list compared

5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Just another Brit making the news for criminal activity in Thailand. What would the morning be without getting that confirmed? It´s Chinese, Israelis, Brits and Russians that are in the top section of the Leaderboard. Let the tournament commence! First prize 20 years, Second 12 years, Third 8........and so on......

The Brits are running laps around the competition. What have we got this week? This guy, two Brits knocked out by a muscle dude on Walking Street, two Brits who slashed the manager's face at the King's Table. That's just what I've seen since logging in today. Thailand could ban Brits and the crime rate would fall off the face of a cliff. Then consider how many more Chinese and Russians visit Thailand than Brits and you've got fodder for an anthropological study. What's in the UK water? What do parents do to their children over there?

23 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Just another Brit making the news for criminal activity in Thailand. What would the morning be without getting that confirmed? It´s Chinese, Israelis, Brits and Russians that are in the top section of the Leaderboard. Let the tournament commence! First prize 20 years, Second 12 years, Third 8........and so on......

U forgot the Norwegians! With a population of only 5 million percentage wise they must be at on top 3 of the list

On 3/8/2026 at 4:35 AM, Jim Waldron said:

Arrested with around 400g of cocaine allegedly intended for sale to tourists!

"... the suspect admitted during questioning that the drugs belonged to him and were intended for customers..."

That quantity would almost certainly be treated by prosecutors as possession for distribution, not personal use.

If the allegations are proven, it looks like the high life on Sukhumvit Soi 31 has come to an abrupt end.

He may soon be swapping a comfortable condo for rather more basic accommodation at the Bangkok Hilton.

Agreed, his stay in Thailand has just hit rock bottom.....

17 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

What do parents do to their children over there

Force them to wear shorts all year perhaps?

Looks like 64 going on 94. He wont make it 6 months in a thai jail. Sad.

23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Desperate ... Victim ... that's funny

I don't think so, as half kg of coke isn't exactly cheap. Stupid is best description for him. Now he doesn't have to worry about room & board the rest of his life.

You assume he's done this by himself rather than the drugs being supplied to him to sell. Maybe he did get it or maybe he was supplied it with a cut of the profits. Only thing mentioned in the article is he allegedly admitted the drugs were his. Stupid is correct though. His life has basically come to an end and what he's got left is going to be a living hell.

Doesn't make sense he would take a 400g block out for a walk while carrying a container of wraps to sell .

Was he taking the 400g to a buyer and was he grassed up by the Nigerian competition or one of them that is working with the cops after being busted .

What was he thinking, it was never going to end in a fairy tale. Now he has to spend the rest of his life in his worst nightmare.

Slinging drugs in Thailand at age 64. Deary, deary me.

Age may come with years, but ethics apparently remain optional for some “gentlemen.”... how often we encounter this daily!

On 3/7/2026 at 9:11 PM, blaze master said:

Rule 1 of drug dealing. Dont carry almost a half kilo of the product while selling dime bags.

What a spoon.

So if he only had the dime bags, they would have let him go?

On 3/7/2026 at 10:48 PM, smedly said:

when desperate people do stupid things, if he couldn't afford to live here he would have been better off returning home, now he will spend the rest of his days in a Thai jail, what an idiot

The upside of course is no 90-day report obligation, not that he was doing any anyway.

64 and selling cocaine??!!! Isn't that a young person's game?

On 3/7/2026 at 10:48 PM, smedly said:

when desperate people do stupid things, if he couldn't afford to live here he would have been better off returning home, now he will spend the rest of his days in a Thai jail, what an idiot

I agree- and frankly I have no sympathy for him. He deserves all that he gets- and I hope he receives a heavy sentence

20 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

The Brits are running laps around the competition. What have we got this week? This guy, two Brits knocked out by a muscle dude on Walking Street, two Brits who slashed the manager's face at the King's Table. That's just what I've seen since logging in today. Thailand could ban Brits and the crime rate would fall off the face of a cliff. Then consider how many more Chinese and Russians visit Thailand than Brits and you've got fodder for an anthropological study. What's in the UK water? What do parents do to their children over there?

Well it could be worse , the Brits could be involved in organised crime like drug (not the odd street seller as the west Africans have that market locked down) , human trafficking …oh no the Chinese Triads have that sorted. Organised crime involving fake businesses and taking Thai jobs ….no the Russians got that market cornered. 🤔….ahh scam call centres scamming thousands of Thai people?? No the Indians and the Chinese are back again in charge of those ops. So the Brits get drunk in a bar and have a little punch up and usually lose because they are 99% of the time drunk as a skunk. It kinda puts it all into perspective doesn’t it , and obviously the petty Brit and other western crimes are committed in the open and being caught on 20 plus camera phones 😂

On 3/8/2026 at 8:55 AM, KhunLA said:

Desperate ... Victim ... that's funny

I don't think so, as half kg of coke isn't exactly cheap. Stupid is best description for him. Now he doesn't have to worry about room & board the rest of his life.

Based on what little I know, the low level dealers don't put up the money for the inventory, they pay out of their sales. These are usually addicts who have sold their souls to feed their addiction. Look at the photo, very underweight guy, likely a meth addict. 64 years old. A wretched human being leading a wretched life. Sadly, there's really no way to get to the top of the chain - which is likely the mafia of any of a number of countries, and those countries such as China and North Korea will do nothing.

2 hours ago, bananafish said:

Slinging drugs in Thailand at age 64. Deary, deary me.

And generation "z" think all baby boomers are financially rich. Well this guy sadly disproves that accusation.

On 3/8/2026 at 5:53 AM, Celsius said:

The victim of a frozen UK pension.

At 64 years old??

An OP here had the tagline, "You can't cure stupid." Selling coke to tourists on Sukhumvit?!? My guess is that he didn't buy the blow, it was fronted to him.

It the end of his life. Even with prisoner exchange, a convict has to do half their sentence in a Thai prison. No golden years for this poor man. Damned shame.

Play it right and there could be a book deal and movie in this dung heap of a situation. Christopher Walken looks almost as pale and weird as the protagonist in this tale; perhaps he would play the lead role. You'd need a katoey as the love interest, Keir should be out of office by then and could make some calls.