The Foreign Office issued an alert on Saturday
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to anybody who is planning on taking luggage abroad with them. Tens of millions of overseas trips are made from the UK each year, and the FCDO regularly shares information aimed at keeping Brits safe while travelling.
In a new alert on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday the FCDO issued a warning regarding baggage. The post reads: “Criminal gangs are known to pressure people into carrying drugs.
“Always pack your own luggage and do not carry anything through customs for someone else.” Further information provided on an accompanying graphic warns: “There’s no such thing as a free holiday. You booked a jail sentence. Do not carry cannabis through customs for someone else.”
The warning comes after British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis out of Thailand. While low-strength cannabis is legal in the south-east Asian country, the FCDO warns, cannabis of any strength is illegal in the UK, and may be illegal in other countries you travel to.
It goes on to remind passengers that airports have “excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items” and explains that anyone caught carrying cannabis in other countries may be given a long prison sentence, and even the death penalty.
FCDO guidance continues: “Legal processes before court hearings can be long and expensive. It can take many months for a case to go to trial. In some countries, you can be arrested if you have traces of cannabis on your clothing, baggage or within you.
“Random blood and urine tests can be taken to see if it is within you. It is illegal to take cannabis out of Thailand without the appropriate export permissions issued by the authorities.
“Illegally carrying cannabis, particularly large quantities, can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment in Thailand.”