The Brit, 25, was arrested at a luxury apartment block in central Bangkok after being found with more than a kilogram of cocaine worth almost £70,000 – as well as a ‘quantity’ of marijuana in his room
A British man is facing life behind bars in Thailand after he was found with 1.1 kilograms of cocaine worth almost £70,000 – which he allegedly planned to sell in bars.
The 25-year-old is accused of smuggling the illegal haul into Thailand through international post before trying to store it at a luxury apartment block in central Bangkok, where he was arrested. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) flagged the package as suspicious and prepared a sting operation after a member of staff at the apartment complex refused to accept it due to an unclear address.
When the Brit arrived to pick up the package, he was immediately detained. Officers then scoured his room, where they also found “a quantity” of marijuana.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Lekathikan, Secretary-General of the ONCB, said: “Right now, our officers are conducting an in-depth investigation into this drug trafficking network involving foreign nationals. For this reason, we are not able to disclose the suspect’s personal information or further details at this stage. Anyone else connected to him, who has been involved in the smuggling network, should be fearful. We are closing in on them.”
The police chief said that the arrest demonstrated Thailand’s commitment to clamping down on drug operations which use the country as a distribution hub. The cocaine – thought to be for sale to other tourists at party venues across Bangkok – was valued at more than 3 million baht (£68,469).
The ONCB said: “This cocaine seizure demonstrates the efforts of transnational networks to import club drugs, which are highly potent and popular in entertainment venues, into the country. These drugs include ecstasy, happy water, ketamine (K), Five-Five, and even laughing gas.
“All of these are illegal and deadly. All agencies have been instructed to strictly monitor and suppress these drugs to protect our society and youth from all forms of drug threats.”
The Brit was charged with importing Category II narcotics into Thailand for sale. Cocaine is classified as a ‘Category II’ narcotic in Thailand. Depending on the quanitity, importers, producers, and exporters face various jail sentences – with the most severe being life in prison.
Earlier this month, a baby-faced British tourist, George Wilson, was accused of trying to smuggle a 9.15kg of crystal meth out of Bankgog – with the drugs hidden in foil tea bags. He was caught at the Le Fenix hotel in a red-light district after police traced packages from a British runner nicknamed ‘Snoopy’.
The 23-year-old is now facing the death penalty for importing or exporting Category 1 substances.