South African Woman Jailed 25 Years For Heroin Smuggling

[GATOR420]

In my humble opinion there are far too many laws out there to protect us from ourselves replacing what should be just plain common sense.

Want to take drugs? Have all you want.

Don't want to wear a helmet riding a bike? Your choice.

Seat belt too uncomfortable? Take your chances.

Want to commit suicide? Try not to make a mess about it.

I am all for the process of natural selection.

[wackysleet]

I read somewhere that Africans are soft targets - that they are most likely to commit the crime and because there is no rule of law in their own country, and presume that Thailand is equally lax. There is plenty of free board at the Hilton. Serves her right.

That is one huge haul of contraband - where did you say she stashed it all?!

BR>Jack

wackysleet.

Have you seen the size arse on some of these women jack, so draw your own conclusions .

[Pash]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Just got back from lunch & I still feel the same.

[wackysleet]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

That is your opinion, maybe a few even think your the dimwit, others have their views too and they are not name calling.

[hansnl]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

HEAR, HEAR

The small ones are taken.

The big ones stay out of range.

And continue doing their evil.

[noungning]

I might be the only one, but I am far more interested in the reasons why someone does something like this than the punishment. Punishments are just a vindication of a society that has no answer to the problem of drugs use anyhow. outrageous punishments never stopped ten more smugglers from trying because they might have made the reward higher.

i think u might've overlooked addiction in itself and also money. addiction leads people to do many things. money also leads people to do many things. the 2 combined makes ones mind believe they are supernatural.

for addiction to stop, greed also needs to stop. no money = no drugs and vice versa.

[Thighlander]

3 million for .5 kg? The lady on the tour bus said 350,000 per kg.

[Scott]

Whether the punishment is just or not, I don't know. But it's quite sad for the families of these people. The sad truth about drugs is that a whole lot of people are hurt by them....if not directly by the drugs, then by the consequences of the legal system.

[HarleyDave]

Her problem she knew what she was doing. T.S.

[BigSnake]

25 years on the lucky side for her some place this could mean Death by hanging or other mean. Maybe just maybe with some super behavior she could be out in 15 or 20 years, and with some super duper lucky out in 10. Hope she will learn her lesson and this will send a message, although weak message that some long hard time could be in store if caught and convicted of drugs possession.

[Chang_paarp]

499 grams ? sounds like a a range to me and maybe she was just under. Shame really , half a kilo of that stuff will send hundreds to their graves and many more family's destroyed. Oh well she will have time to reflect next 25 slow and miserable years

Outside of politics we need Thaksin to handle this scum. Thais cant afford the jails to take care of this vermon. Didnt he do a great job with yabba dealers!

I think you are right here about a range.

South African woman jailed 25 years for heroin smuggling

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Thursday sentenced a South African woman to 25 years in jail and fine of Bt1 million after convicting her in attempting to smuggle 499 grammes of heroin out of the kingdom to China.

Pendu Montando Evidence, 25, was arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International airport on November 16 last year before boarding a flight of Thai Air Asia to Shenzhen. Authorities found 48 bags of heroin hidden on her.

-- The Nation 2009-06-18

Original story:

South African Woman Arrested Trying To Smuggle Out 3 Million Baht Of Heroin

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/South-Africa...ug-t223336.html

The original story says she was carrying 657 grams, wonder what happened to the missing extra?

Martin

For PC crowd who think smack is OK, try living with or near an addict for a while and tell me some of your experiences. The people who traffic need to be deterred, as do the moneyed folk, although they are a tad harder to get to.

[jackdanielsesq]

RAOTFF,LMFAO

BR>Jack

:D

Have you seen the size arse on some of these women jack, so draw your own conclusions

[rethaired]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Totally agree with you!

It is obvious to the most educated, the most reasonable, and the most intelligent people out here know that prohibition serves traffickers and even sometimes states or the police/military (Mexico). Let me guess that most people wanting the old stick-in-the-hand method (probably the same one that our forebears used when they were fighting saber-tooth tigers) are also believing in Santa Claus (or people that look like him)!

But, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. More and more people are being educated and are finally getting the idea that legalization is the only way out. BTW, legalization is NOT handing drugs on street corners to everyone. I suppose that's what some people think it is. People who advocate legalization also believe that education, regulation, rehabilitation, and enforcement will be needed as well. It worked with tobacco.

Edited June 18, 2009 by rethaired

[lazygourmet]

In my humble opinion there are far too many laws out there to protect us from ourselves replacing what should be just plain common sense.

Want to take drugs? Have all you want.

Don't want to wear a helmet riding a bike? Your choice.

Seat belt too uncomfortable? Take your chances.

Want to commit suicide? Try not to make a mess about it.

I am all for the process of natural selection.

I am a free thinker as well!

[somo]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Spot on! Couldn't have put it better myself. Well said.

[smallprawn]

I might be the only one, but I am far more interested in the reasons why someone does something like this than the punishment. Punishments are just a vindication of a society that has no answer to the problem of drugs use anyhow. outrageous punishments never stopped ten more smugglers from trying because they might have made the reward higher.

Heroine destroys so many lives world wide and while these trafficers muts be delt with strongly I agree that excesive punishments do not address the underlying problems. All to often the individuals being arrested are mearly carriers being manipulated by crime cyndicates who can quite easily find other equally desperate volunteers to cary out their dirty work.

As to reasons why a person would try such a thing.... I could only suggest either greed, desperation or most likely she was operating under duress. Fear is often the most likely motovation to make a person take such a risk... ?

Just a thought.

[highlander76]

What everyone has forgotten is she was a mule only small fry .Twentry five years in a thai jail will most likely kill her if she has nobody in her family or friends that can provide money she is not going to have a easy time in a thai jail but she is guity and has to go prison

[EndofDays]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Either a troll or an idiot or an idiot troll.

[EndofDays]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Totally agree with you!

It is obvious to the most educated, the most reasonable, and the most intelligent people out here know that prohibition serves traffickers and even sometimes states or the police/military (Mexico). Let me guess that most people wanting the old stick-in-the-hand method (probably the same one that our forebears used when they were fighting saber-tooth tigers) are also believing in Santa Claus (or people that look like him)!

But, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. More and more people are being educated and are finally getting the idea that legalization is the only way out. BTW, legalization is NOT handing drugs on street corners to everyone. I suppose that's what some people think it is. People who advocate legalization also believe that education, regulation, rehabilitation, and enforcement will be needed as well. It worked with tobacco.

Name one place where legalization has worked? Amsterdam? Now they dealing with a genertion passed out in the park.

[brahmburgers]

For PC crowd who think smack is OK, try living with or near an addict for a while and tell me some of your experiences. The people who traffic need to be deterred, as do the moneyed folk, although they are a tad harder to get to.

I've lived near heroin addicts and I've lived near drunkards, and I can't honestly say which are worse. There are more drunkards in the world, and you're not likely to get your head smashed by a heroin user driving a car. Most heroin users lurk in dark corners and don't actively annoy others (like drunkards do) - except when they're ripping people off to support their habit. Plus, drunkards are far more likely to beat their women and start fights - than heroin addicts.

Thai leaders need to look squarely at each banned drug individually and assess for themselves what the penalty should be for marketing each drug. Instead, Thailand follows US drug laws note for note. Some of those US laws were written decades ago by drug addicted people (Mr. Anslinger was J.Edgar Hoover's best buddy, and he was a morphine addict). Mr. Anslinger was at the vanguard to criminalize ganja, a mean-spirited law that has wrecked the lives of hundreds of thousands of otherwise regular people just out to have some fun.

Decrimilization is the smartest way to begin the long slog toward a less drug-prone society. It would also enable authorities to tax drugs, and other authorities to deal with addicts in a humane manner. Big time dealers could be busted, and the small time 'mules' (like the S.A. woman) could be reprimanded and the drugs confiscated - and she'd likely be spooked to clean up her act. 25 years for a first offense is excessive.

My guess is she's a dark-skinned woman. If she were an attractive light skinned woman with gold acoutraments and connections with VIP Thais, it would be a far different story. The saga of Simon at the Phuket airport comes to mind.

Edited June 18, 2009 by brahmburgers

[AsiaCheese]

In my humble opinion there are far too many laws out there to protect us from ourselves replacing what should be just plain common sense.

Want to take drugs? Have all you want.

Don't want to wear a helmet riding a bike? Your choice.

Seat belt too uncomfortable? Take your chances.

Want to commit suicide? Try not to make a mess about it.

I am all for the process of natural selection.

Cool point. But laws & reason don't always match (don't even start to count the backdoors & interpretations...)

[wlcart]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Totally agree with you!

It is obvious to the most educated, the most reasonable, and the most intelligent people out here know that prohibition serves traffickers and even sometimes states or the police/military (Mexico). Let me guess that most people wanting the old stick-in-the-hand method (probably the same one that our forebears used when they were fighting saber-tooth tigers) are also believing in Santa Claus (or people that look like him)!

But, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. More and more people are being educated and are finally getting the idea that legalization is the only way out. BTW, legalization is NOT handing drugs on street corners to everyone. I suppose that's what some people think it is. People who advocate legalization also believe that education, regulation, rehabilitation, and enforcement will be needed as well. It worked with tobacco.

Name one place where legalization has worked? Amsterdam? Now they dealing with a genertion passed out in the park.

One place? how about the end of prohibition in the US? Or medical marijuana in California? Or the reduction of heroin related deaths and crime in BC Canada after introducing 'safe houses' for drug use.

Can anyone name one place were criminalization has worked? I promise you more people have died due to the 'war on drugs' than deaths from taking drugs! Look at the Mexico-US border, what a mess.

[Thighlander]

499 Gs? Either 1) she was dipping into her supply. 2) someone owes her a g. 3) Lt. Somchai needs to recalibrate his scale.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Thighlander

[OnNutter]

Thailand has gone soft. 25 years to easy on her what is wrong can't they afford the rope.

In this day and age we would hope to have evolved from the sentencing of the death penalty.

And from the infliction of pain and suffering to thousands of our fellow human beings and their families that these drug trafficers continue to cause.

No I'm sorry a quick humane death is far too good for these people, it should be long, slow, and as painful as possible, just like it is for the poor souls who fall prey to these low life bastards.

[sicknote]

I'm amazed that people still think drug dealers smuggle drugs across borders. The drug dealers are far far away from this part of the operation.

You could gut every caught smuggler like a fish on live television and people will still be carrying drugs across the borders.

The simple fact is, the war on drugs does not work and will never work.

State control and decriminalisation is the way forward.

[Id68]

What a bunch of dim-witted censorious moralists!! You actually seem to think that the mere carrying of drugs is evil, and that taking them is terrible, and that this poor woman deserves this sentence. You obviously think that prohibition is sensible and right.

The "war on drugs" is an idiocy that has created most of the criminality in the world today and cost society untold billions and untold misery. Drugs should be decriminalised and state-controlled, with support and care for addicts. That policy would be an immense improvement on the current state of affairs worldwide (except in a few enlightened European countries), costing the whole lot of us far far less in taxes and suffering.

People who support the current drastic penalisation of drug-takers and drug-traders are simply out to lunch.

Quite right, give them all they want for free. On the condition they have to take it all in one go.

Pity we haven't got pol pot in control, he would have you topped as well.

You are an idiot...I'm half Cambodian, my mother was one of the lucky ones (unlike her 2 sisters). I dare you to say something like that to her face...she'd kick the crap out of you! Come to think of it give me your address.

People like you, and a lot of the other pious hypocrites on this thread are all for executing people and handing out heavy sentences...So tell me what should be done say with all the prostitutes and those who solicite their services?

I suppose none of the terribly upright citizens writing here have ever indulged a prostitutes services, or heaven's above located to Thailand to specifically take advantage of this totally ilegal aspect of Thai culture. How many years of incarciration should offenders recieve? What about those who have used services and contracted and spread HIV? Should they be executed for spreading a terminal disease.

My point..You're an idiot! No one is perfect, killing is not the answer and asolutely no one has the right to play God.

FYI If you think my analogy is ridiculous ....Pol Pot killed over 2 million people.

[Texpat]

Users and smugglers and anyone else knowingly involved are criminals and need to be punished severely.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Texpat

[OnNutter]

I'm amazed that people still think drug dealers smuggle drugs across borders. The drug dealers are far far away from this part of the operation.

You could gut every caught smuggler like a fish on live television and people will still be carrying drugs across the borders.

The simple fact is, the war on drugs does not work and will never work.

State control and decriminalisation is the way forward.

I think most people know that the mule is not the dealer or that the dealer is the big money man....but they are all implicit in a criminal act and all are dependant on the others involved for the supply chain to continue. Breaking the chain at any stage disrupts the supply and that can only be applauded however it occours.

As for the war on drugs not working....apply the same logic to theft, should we no longer persue thieves because we don't catch them all!!!!

State control and decriminalisation has not stopped Vondel park in Amsterdam being full of smackheads, who, by the way, are mostly non-Dutch attracted to the country by it's liberal attitudes.

[Texpat]

As for the war on drugs not working....apply the same logic to theft, should we no longer persue thieves because we don't catch them all!!!!

Great point Nutter.

Should we legalize any sort of illegal activity because it might be easier than catching them all?

Hardly.

Should we provide children to pedophiles because it's just too hard to catch them? Didn't think so.

And those that say drug users hurt nobody but themselves need to look around.

[sicknote]

Users and smugglers and anyone else knowingly involved are criminals and need to be punished severely.

Please explain why severe punishment will help combat the war on drugs?

People are executed and locked away for life every week yet the drug problem is getting worse.

The war on drugs is a pointless exercise. A total waste of tax payers money.

If herion or coke was made available on prescription most of the misery would vanish over night. Our streets would be safer and dealers would be made redundant.

The world drug market is a massive business and I find it hard to belive our governments are not involved in the wholesale of illegal drugs. Any country with class A drugs will have a heavy US military presence.