A 37-year-old Canadian man wanted in an international drug trafficking case was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 22 April 2026 as he attempted to leave Thailand. Immigration Police Division 3 officers detained the suspect, identified as Mr. Wesley, after tracking him from Pattaya to the airport. Authorities confirmed he is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued by South Korea.

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The arrest followed an investigation into a transnational drug network operating in Pattaya. Officers moved to apprehend Mr. Wesley at his residence, but he fled by car towards Suvarnabhumi Airport in an apparent attempt to escape the country. Police pursued and located him in the international departures hall, where he was mingling with other passengers while preparing to check-in.

Checks through Interpol databases had revealed his status as a wanted individual. South Korean authorities are seeking his arrest for alleged involvement in cross-border narcotics smuggling. Immigration officers conducted biometric verification, which confirmed his identity matched the Red Notice.

Following confirmation, authorities revoked his permission to stay in Thailand under Section 12(7) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). The operation was carried out under directives from Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumart Boonyalak, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, who have prioritised crackdowns on transnational crime.

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

Officials stated the arrest reflects ongoing efforts to prevent foreign criminals from using Thailand as a base while posing as tourists. The case is also seen as part of broader cooperation between Thai authorities and international law enforcement agencies to combat global drug trafficking networks.

Naewna reported that Mr. Wesley remains in custody as authorities prepare procedures for deportation. Thai officials are coordinating closely with South Korean counterparts to arrange his transfer to face legal proceedings. The case is expected to proceed in line with international protocols for extradition or deportation of wanted individuals.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Naewna 24 Apr 2026

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Those Canadians are bad eggs.

Never seem to arrest them when they arrive.

Always once they’re here or when leaving.

Weird.

Not smart to head for the airport. Should have lied low for a while.

canadians behaving badly again.

clearly, all that maple syrup isn't enough to keep people contented with their lives.

Let him sit in a Thai cage for a while.

Interesting how the police here the rest people with the international interpole red notice whatever you wanna call it which brings up the question once again what happened with that red notice for the Red Bull kid who killed the cop then he flew to Singapore and said no to the church saying he was too sick to come I guess really what he’s just waiting for the statue of limitations right now then he’ll be back probably driving a new Ferrari TIT

You crazy there isn't any statute of limitations in a killing you aint that bright

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

Not so mysterious if you follow the money.

And, like Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that.

3 hours ago, blaze master said:

Those Canadians are bad eggs.

...Yes, we refer to it as 'mass-immigration' 😁

19 minutes ago, jcmj said:

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

It's not a two way street.

Jho Low goes in out of Thailand

"at will " if he wants to .....

black short hair and wanted by korea,seem to me a asian canadian from immigration

Well, one good thing about this arrest is that Canadian taxpayers will not have to pay for his upkeep. Koreans are more prosperous than Canucks and can easily afford to keep him locked up for (hopefully) 30 years.

And (further cause for joy) Korea probably has judges who will not let him out early because he had a poor childhood or can demonstrate indigenous standing.

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

Interesting how the police here the rest people with the international interpole red notice whatever you wanna call it which brings up the question once again what happened with that red notice for the Red Bull kid...

The only conclusion is police in Thailand is way better to catch fugetives than police in those countries he are known to be hiding in after the red notice was issued: UK and Dubai

I wonder how it is that someone carrying a red notice is allowed into the country at all. Amazing Thailand.

20 minutes ago, Front Row said:

I wonder how it is that someone carrying a red notice is allowed into the country at all. Amazing Thailand.

Perhaps the red notice was issued after he arrived in Thailand?

Obviously, we don't have the whole story here. For example, what kind of dope and quantity.

3 hours ago, impulse said:

Not so mysterious if you follow the money.

And, like Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that.

Indeed- it appears to be mysterious until you remember this is Thailand- and brown envelopes resolve many issues!

3 hours ago, jcmj said:

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

You make a valid point.

Maybe, just maybe, the Thai authorities don't want him caught, if indeed you are referring to the famous Red Bull guy, Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

As a multi-billionaire heir, he can afford top lawyers, private jets, and to live quietly or use other passports/identities.

5 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

what happened with that red notice for the Red Bull kid

The notice for Vorayuth (there was no "kid" involved} was issued and, presumably, is still in force but if overseas police forces disregard the notice and won't arrest him for a traffic offense nothing can be done.

5 hours ago, wildpuppet72 said:

You crazy there isn't any statute of limitations in a killing you aint that bright

In Thailand there is a 20 year statute of limitations for murder but, in the case that was referenced here, there was no murder, it's a traffic offence so it appears that it is no one else but you that is "crazy" and "not that bright", to use your words.

5 hours ago, jcmj said:

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

The Royal Thai police can only operate in their own jurisdiction, Interpol notices issued for Thais not in Thailand have to be enforced by overseas police agencies and then only if those agencies choose to, Interpol notices are not instructions, they are advisories.

5 hours ago, impulse said:

hours ago, jcmj said:

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

Not so mysterious if you follow the money.

It would be better to follow how Interpol notices actually work.

6 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Interesting how the police here the rest people with the international interpole red notice whatever you wanna call it which brings up the question once again what happened with that red notice for the Red Bull kid who killed the cop then he flew to Singapore and said no to the church saying he was too sick to come I guess really what he’s just waiting for the statue of limitations right now then he’ll be back probably driving a new Ferrari TIT

did not take long for the Khun Boss buthurt brigade to arrive !

5 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

hours ago, jcmj said:

It’s amazing how many they can catch here on a Red notice from other countries, but can’t do the same thing with their own citizens on Red notice.

It's not a two way street.

Jho Low goes in out of Thailand

"at will " if he wants to .....

but it is a two-way street, as evidenced by this bloody thread in which the Royal Thai Police acted, once again, on an Interpol red notice!

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Obviously, we don't have the whole story here. For example, what kind of dope and quantity.

Type of Dope - Canadian.

Qnty - 1

4 hours ago, Kandinski said:

The only conclusion is police in Thailand is way better to catch fugetives than police in those countries he are known to be hiding in after the red notice was issued: UK and Dubai

...but those police forces you refer to do not have to act on a red notice, they are advisories, that's all, and they're unlikely to get involved with an arrest for a traffic offence.

2 hours ago, Legal Lifeline said:

5 hours ago, impulse said:

Not so mysterious if you follow the money.

And, like Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that.

Indeed- it appears to be mysterious until you remember this is Thailand- and brown envelopes resolve many issues

"...remember this is Thailand..."

But he is not in Thailand!

He looks Chinese to me.

Must be some Chinese guy from Vancouver.