Police Arrest Foreign Tourists for Cannabis Smuggling in Surat Thani

SURAT THANI: Authorities in Surat Thani have arrested 13 foreign nationals in connection with a scheme to smuggle cannabis out of the country, with a total estimated market value of 75 million baht. Police apprehended four British men at Samui airport, who were found with a combined 131 kilograms of dried cannabis buds as they prepared to board a flight to Singapore.

Identified as Antony (63), Billy (37), Philld (63), and John (34), the suspects each carried two suitcases filled with cannabis. Airport security detected the drugs during routine X-ray screenings. After briefly evading capture, all four were arrested and charged with cannabis smuggling and violations of local cannabis laws.

Immigration police revealed that these Britons were allegedly recruited abroad to act as “tourists” in Thailand. The operation was orchestrated by masterminds who provided flight and accommodation expenses in exchange for transporting cannabis out of the country. The suspects flew from Bangkok to Koh Samui with plans to first carry the drugs to Singapore before moving them to other international destinations. They were promised around 2,000 pounds (approximately 87,000 baht) upon successful delivery, with some linked to debt repayment schemes.

In total, law enforcement seized 375 kilograms of cannabis across 22 bags over the past four days at Samui airport. If successfully smuggled, the cannabis could have fetched a retail value of about 75 million baht overseas.

Previously, eight out of nine foreigners arrested for similar offenses at Samui airport were also headed for Singapore, while one was destined for Hong Kong. A local court sentenced these individuals to four months in prison.

Additionally, authorities are investigating potential links to a cannabis smuggling operation involving a mistakenly transferred suitcase that a Surat Thani couple took to Japan. Inside, officials discovered 24 kilograms of dried cannabis, which was traced back to a British national named Mark Barlow.

Barlow entered Thailand on March 6, but without touring any sites, he left Surat Thani airport just a day before departing for South Korea.