Thailand intensifies drug controls; 11 French nationals detained for cannabis smuggling

Thailand has significantly tightened its anti-drug trafficking measures since June, resulting in the detention of at least 11 French citizens found with cannabis in their luggage at the airport. The French Embassy in Bangkok issued a warning, detailing that Thai authorities are now systematically imposing customs fines of 30,000 baht (approximately 800 euros) per kilogram of seized cannabis.

Failure to pay these fines can lead to detention while awaiting trial. The embassy strongly advises against transporting luggage for unknown third parties, emphasizing the severe and lasting consequences in Thailand, as well as upon arrival in France. Sentences can extend up to 10 years in prison.

Thai police confirmed that airport controls were reinforced following a high-profile case in June involving a Thai Airways flight attendant arrested in Australia with heroin. Some French nationals arrested claim they were victims of a scam, lured by all-expenses-paid vacations in exchange for transporting luggage they believed contained mobile phones. However, the locked suitcases allegedly contained cannabis, which, despite being decriminalized in Thailand in 2022, remains illegal to export.

Authorities are prioritizing surveillance of passengers carrying bulky luggage, as cannabis is easily detectable by X-ray machines. The arrests highlight the risks travelers face when unknowingly involved in drug smuggling operations, even with substances that have seen changing legal statuses.