Samui: Indian pair face Thai drug smuggling charges

[rotary]

Lets hope they get death as the law dictates.

[rubberduck]

Question #1 in this kind of cases: Are they criminals or victims ?

[rubberduck]

Why do people make posts here "I hope they get 25 years", "scumbags" are just some examples. It goes on and on.

Yes I agree, there is even a name for it "Hang'em high" comments. Its pretty boring and mindless.

From the look of the 2 gentlemen caught, they don't look as though they have 2 pennies to rub together.

People can be under the most enormous pressure to commit these crimes by gangsters that have leverage over family members etc.

Its a sad unfortunate situation. They will likely go to jail but it will not stop drugs coming in. Apparently this particular drug normally comes across from Burma.

Agree 100%, suprised that there are still people with brains here.

The overkill of frustrated old sexpats and agressive hillbillies who are addicted ventilating their disappointing boring life should be banned from this forum because they are annoying.

Local law will handle this case, not their business.

[hawker9000]

I don't know. These guys are just trying to raise their financial circumstances, with a high risk level.

They would have been told they'd be taken care of. A lot gets through.

Nobody forces anybody else to smoke meth. Idiots want it. That's their business.

Its a taste. Its dangerous. Every body knows. Its prohibited. Everybody knows.

Because alcohol related offences in the USA comes in about 4 in 10 of all crimes and road fatalities, do we lock up the bartenders?

I certainly hope not.

They're just serving us the poison we choose to have.

There's always someone trying to tout the ridiculous idea, dismissed by the vast majority fortunately, that drugs are no worse or different than alcohol or tobacco... (Might as well include sugary soft drinks and computer games on the list while we're at it...maybe even coffee!) And of COURSE the mules are trying to improve their financial standing. That excuses nothing. The same can be said of the guy who shoots you dead on the street for your wallet. But it is true that the "idiots that want it", the users, bear much more responsibility for the drug trade than is generally assigned.

[Andre0720]

Question #1 in this kind of cases: Are they criminals or victims ?

Might be both.

Unfortunately.

[Andre0720]

I don't know. These guys are just trying to raise their financial circumstances, with a high risk level.

They would have been told they'd be taken care of. A lot gets through.

Nobody forces anybody else to smoke meth. Idiots want it. That's their business.

Its a taste. Its dangerous. Every body knows. Its prohibited. Everybody knows.

Because alcohol related offences in the USA comes in about 4 in 10 of all crimes and road fatalities, do we lock up the bartenders?

I certainly hope not.

They're just serving us the poison we choose to have.

The first part of your post has some merit.

But then comparing shit drug with alcohol, get a grip.

Alcohol is certainly not a poison. Otherwise, one could argue that food is...

[limbos]

Alcohol is most certainly a poison, ever seen alcohol overdose? Alcohol addicts? Imho, alcohol is nothing else but a legal drug. To keep the masses quiet, you can almost add.

[joecos]

They have to be nuts bring that through singapore! If they had been bust there it would have been the death sentence for sure.

And so it should be here . I eagerly await the verdict . Will they buy themselves a lite sentence .

[monkey4u]

What are you telling me sir?

This is 100% Indian curry that I am carrying

[marell]

Gee, don't you just hate it when those 'career' decisions go hopelessly and horribly wrong? Bad idea, boys. Very bad idea.

[nachiket]

Hope they get 20 years !!!!!!!!!

Why little punishment.

They deserve life sentence or life penalty.

On the other hand if govt. wish to save money paid by local tax payers on foreign criminals, they can send them directly to heaven.

[MaxYakov]

Question #1 in this kind of cases: Are they criminals or victims ?

You mean criminal cases? They are victims of their own criminal intentions. I've turned down a few dodgy proposals while in Bangkok. I was never that desperate. Were they (rhetorical)?

in the movie Brokedown Palace (1999), two young American tourists were unknowingly attempting to smuggle drugs and then reported to Thai police as a diversion from other mules. However, reports of their prior, less serious chicanery in a Bangkok hotel did not serve them well in their defense in the Thai court.

Edited July 27, 2013 by MaxYakov

[Farangdam]

go die and burn in hell you piece of s*<*^t. how much family will destroyed if this they get off and distributing this evil thing around thailand or world

[hawker9000]

Alcohol is most certainly a poison, ever seen alcohol overdose? Alcohol addicts? Imho, alcohol is nothing else but a legal drug. To keep the masses quiet, you can almost add.

A poison? Please. Toxic? Maybe. Anything, even pure water, and many legitimate medications, in large enough quantities, can be toxic. Alcohol is no exception. Neither are prescription medications. This whole argument is just a tired attempt to rationalize the use of illegal drugs. Sensible people see it for what it is, acknowledge everyone's right to free speech, and afford it the attention it deserves... They also recognize that drug use fuels global drug violence & crime. Go see them on visiting day if you want to, but concern for what befalls people, including these two Indian mules, involved in it isn't going to be real high on many people's list of priorities.

Edited July 27, 2013 by hawker9000

[Dr Strange]

Question #1 in this kind of cases: Are they criminals or victims ?

Difficult to say without full details. But I would probably go towards 'victims'. I have interviewed several Vietnamese back in the UK who were involved in the drugs trade and I would have identified most of them as victims. In fact, I would draw a parallel between a Vietnamese guy running a cannabis farm in the UK with an Eastern European or Asian woman working in the sex trade in the UK.

[Dr Strange]

Alcohol is most certainly a poison, ever seen alcohol overdose? Alcohol addicts? Imho, alcohol is nothing else but a legal drug. To keep the masses quiet, you can almost add.

A poison? Please. Toxic? Maybe. Anything, even pure water, and many legitimate medications, in large enough quantities, can be toxic. Alcohol is no exception. Neither are prescription medications. This whole argument is just a tired attempt to rationalize the use of illegal drugs. Sensible people see it for what it is, acknowledge everyone's right to free speech, and afford it the attention it deserves... They also recognize that drug use fuels global drug violence & crime. Go see them on visiting day if you want to, but concern for what befalls people, including these two Indian mules, involved in it isn't going to be real high on many people's list of priorities.

Alcohol (and tobacco) are certainly more harmful than most illegal drugs (heroin and meth perhaps being the exceptions). And there are several prescription drugs that are also more harmful (and cause more deaths annually) than many illegal dugs. Perhaps it is time to end these sweeping generalisations of 'illegal drugs' as well as the draconian laws that prohibit personal choice, and regulate some currently illegal substances. Far more benefits than dangers from such a course.

[Rooo]

It was just a matter of time, OFF TOPIC / RACIST posts removed.

[hawker9000]

Alcohol is most certainly a poison, ever seen alcohol overdose? Alcohol addicts? Imho, alcohol is nothing else but a legal drug. To keep the masses quiet, you can almost add.

A poison? Please. Toxic? Maybe. Anything, even pure water, and many legitimate medications, in large enough quantities, can be toxic. Alcohol is no exception. Neither are prescription medications. This whole argument is just a tired attempt to rationalize the use of illegal drugs. Sensible people see it for what it is, acknowledge everyone's right to free speech, and afford it the attention it deserves... They also recognize that drug use fuels global drug violence & crime. Go see them on visiting day if you want to, but concern for what befalls people, including these two Indian mules, involved in it isn't going to be real high on many people's list of priorities.

Alcohol (and tobacco) are certainly more harmful than most illegal drugs (heroin and meth perhaps being the exceptions). And there are several prescription drugs that are also more harmful (and cause more deaths annually) than many illegal dugs. Perhaps it is time to end these sweeping generalisations of 'illegal drugs' as well as the draconian laws that prohibit personal choice, and regulate some currently illegal substances. Far more benefits than dangers from such a course.

Horsefeathers.

OR perhaps it's time to start holding users more fully accountable for the global death & destruction they're a part of...

Edited July 27, 2013 by hawker9000

[Colabamumbai]

If it was your mother here, who was pretty cool and knew that you owed 20 grand in student loans, was approached somewhere, sometime and asked to take a couple of cases of precious gems or whatever, for 10 or 15 grand, thinking only how she can help you, her beloved son or daughter pay off his/her debt.

I think the comments may be a little different...

I am not condoning what was done or the damage that it would do....

[MaxYakov]

I don't know. These guys are just trying to raise their financial circumstances, with a high risk level.

They would have been told they'd be taken care of. A lot gets through.

Nobody forces anybody else to smoke meth. Idiots want it. That's their business.

Its a taste. Its dangerous. Every body knows. Its prohibited. Everybody knows.

Because alcohol related offences in the USA comes in about 4 in 10 of all crimes and road fatalities, do we lock up the bartenders?

I certainly hope not.

They're just serving us the poison we choose to have.

The first part of your post has some merit.

But then comparing shit drug with alcohol, get a grip.

Alcohol is certainly not a poison. Otherwise, one could argue that food is...

Well ... there is this little documentary nugget regarding a common form of food poisoning: Super Size Me (2004). How far off-topic are we now?

[Dr Strange]

Alcohol is most certainly a poison, ever seen alcohol overdose? Alcohol addicts? Imho, alcohol is nothing else but a legal drug. To keep the masses quiet, you can almost add.

A poison? Please. Toxic? Maybe. Anything, even pure water, and many legitimate medications, in large enough quantities, can be toxic. Alcohol is no exception. Neither are prescription medications. This whole argument is just a tired attempt to rationalize the use of illegal drugs. Sensible people see it for what it is, acknowledge everyone's right to free speech, and afford it the attention it deserves... They also recognize that drug use fuels global drug violence & crime. Go see them on visiting day if you want to, but concern for what befalls people, including these two Indian mules, involved in it isn't going to be real high on many people's list of priorities.

Alcohol (and tobacco) are certainly more harmful than most illegal drugs (heroin and meth perhaps being the exceptions). And there are several prescription drugs that are also more harmful (and cause more deaths annually) than many illegal dugs. Perhaps it is time to end these sweeping generalisations of 'illegal drugs' as well as the draconian laws that prohibit personal choice, and regulate some currently illegal substances. Far more benefits than dangers from such a course.

Horsefeathers.

OR perhaps it's time to start holding users more fully accountable for the global death & destruction they're a part of...

Now there speaks someone who gets both their knowledge and opinions on this subject from tabloid media level.

Prohibition has failed. The war on drugs (always tickled me that phrase) has failed. Now is the time to try something different. Regulate and control (just like alcohol) low level of harm substances such as cannabis, mdma and lsd. Keep heroin, amphetamine and meth illegal but treat as a health issue not a criminal justice one. The savings from regulation, together with the HUGE tax revenue, can then be ploughed into; a) Better (and more honest education) for young people to stop them ever going on drugs. b - Better treatment programmes (including prescribed heroin for chronic addicts) for those with heroin etc addictions. c) Better harm reduction programmes across the board.

This would work, and in fact such policies already do (Portugal, Switzerland). It also removes a vast amount of revenue from organised crime, thus saving police and prison resources, which can then be focussed on the crime gangs who smuggle heroin etc.

Win, win all round.

Edited July 27, 2013 by Dr Strange

[hawker9000]

If it was your mother here, who was pretty cool and knew that you owed 20 grand in student loans, was approached somewhere, sometime and asked to take a couple of cases of precious gems or whatever, for 10 or 15 grand, thinking only how she can help you, her beloved son or daughter pay off his/her debt.

I think the comments may be a little different...

I am not condoning what was done or the damage that it would do....

I just plain wasn't raised by parents who would ever engage in something like that to be honest; not to help me or my siblings, or for any reason other than having a gun to their heads perhaps. I think instead about the mothers in Mexico and the world over whose sons and daughters have simply disappeared, or been gunned down, or beheaded, buried in mass graves (who knows in many cases...) by the big-time drug cartels and small-time drug bosses...

[saroq]

Hope they get 20 years !!!!!!!!!

Better still...Life with no chance of appeal or parole...You deal in death .....then you can rot in jail

True but who's twisting the arm of the consumer to buy the product? What idiot doesn't know that starting down the road of hard drugs is only going to end in tears? A well regulated approach to drug use is an approach that should be tried as the war of drugs is an obvious failure.

[PoorSucker]

Deputy Finance Minister Benja Louichareon told a news briefing of the arrest of the two men--Virdi Hardev Singh, 51, and Puran Singh, 41.

Why is the Deputy Finance Minister telling the press about a drug arrest? I thought that was the job of the Undersecretary Twice Removed of the Inactive Post Department.

Chalerm had just taken his ear medication.

[klauskunkel]

Deputy Finance Minister Benja Louichareon told a news briefing of the arrest of the two men--Virdi Hardev Singh, 51, and Puran Singh, 41.

Why is the Deputy Finance Minister telling the press about a drug arrest? I thought that was the job of the Undersecretary Twice Removed of the Inactive Post Department.

Chalerm had just taken his ear medication.

His ears should have fallen off by now...

[rbrooks]

Ice is popular among wealthy people in Thailand?? Since when is this cheap, easily made, synthetic drug popular with the wealthy? In most parts of the world it is for people with the least money since it is so easy to make. Cocaine is usually the rich man's kick.

[tonneke breda]

I never understand why most countries won't let them get trough and then follow them to the point of delivery and catch the guys behind.

[hawker9000]

I never understand why most countries won't let them get trough and then follow them to the point of delivery and catch the guys behind.

Oh, there might be reasons...

[saroq]

I never understand why most countries won't let them get trough and then follow them to the point of delivery and catch the guys behind.

Because the guys behind this world trade are people of immense political, commercial and social influence.

[John 1]

I never understand why most countries won't let them get trough and then follow them to the point of delivery and catch the guys behind.

Because the guys behind this world trade are people of immense political, commercial and social influence.

There name's are????