CHIANG RAI, THAILAND – A 55-year-old woman from South Korea was arrested at Mae Fah Luang International Airport after officials found more than 23 kilograms of cannabis flowers in her luggage that were reportedly destined for London.
Arrest after x-ray check at international terminal
The operation took place in the international area of the airport in Chiang Rai, where the traveler was stopped at a security checkpoint before entering the departure zone. During a routine x-ray inspection, officers detected suspicious contents in her suitcase and ordered a detailed search. Inside, they found 40 packages of cannabis flowers weighing a total of 23.25 kilograms, which were immediately seized by airport officers.
Multiple Thai agencies in coordinated operation
The arrest was part of a coordinated action involving local police, tourist police and immigration and customs authorities. Officials said Thai agencies had intensified efforts to curb illegal cannabis exports via airports, particularly in heavily visited tourist provinces. According to the agencies involved, the case demonstrated closer cooperation and information sharing, with tighter checks focusing on international routes to Europe and other regions.
Charges under Customs Act and reminder of export ban
The woman was detained at the airport and, according to investigators, charged under the Customs Act on suspicion of attempting to export cannabis flowers out of the kingdom. Officials stressed that the export of cannabis remained illegal despite recent changes to domestic regulations. The suspect and the seized drugs were handed over to investigators at Ban Du police station for further processing.
Suspect’s statement and unanswered questions
According to investigators, the woman told officers during her initial questioning that a female acquaintance had asked her to take the cannabis to London.
“She said she believed it was not forbidden to take cannabis out of the country.”
said investigators, according to the report. Authorities emphasized that such a claim did not protect anyone from prosecution and that misunderstandings about the legal situation did not change criminal liability; no further details were released about the person alleged to have supplied the drugs.
Increased checks and warning to international travelers
Officials said the case was one of a series of attempted cannabis smuggling incidents via airports that had recently drawn heightened attention from security agencies. Police and customs reiterated at major international hubs that the export of cannabis remained banned and warned of severe penalties for drug offenses, including for foreign nationals. According to the newspaper Daily News, the suspect remained in police custody while investigators prepared the case file for formal charges and examined whether a larger smuggling network was behind the shipment, though no additional suspects had been named.