SURAT THANI, THAILAND – Customs officials on the Thai island of Koh Samui said tourists had used the resort as a launch point for large-scale cannabis smuggling to the United Kingdom, with Singapore serving as a key transit hub.
Recurring smuggling pattern detected
The head of the Samui customs office, Ruangyos Komoltham, said on Wednesday that numerous marijuana seizures between March and September of last year had been linked to a recurring smuggling pattern. A significant share of the confiscated cannabis was reportedly destined for transport to the United Kingdom and was to be routed onward via Singapore. According to customs, those most frequently affected were British holidaymakers departing the island.
Warnings from UK authorities largely ignored
Ruangyos stated that travelers appeared largely undeterred by a 2024 warning from British authorities. That notice had pointed out that importing cannabis from Samui into the United Kingdom could result in severe prison sentences. Despite this, officers at Samui Airport seized 406.6 kilograms of dried cannabis over seven months, with an estimated local street value of around 4 million baht.
Major March seizure at Samui Airport
The largest single case was recorded on 12 March, when authorities checked the luggage of five British air travelers and one Malaysian passenger at the airport. Officers found nearly 144 kilograms of dried cannabis flowers in their suitcases. The customs chief did not specify whether the suspects had been traveling together or in separate groups.
“All admitted their wrongdoing at the time of arrest.”
said Ruangyos Komoltham, head of the Samui customs office.
Cannabis handed over for medical use
On Wednesday, the seized drugs were handed over to Tha Chang Hospital in Tha Chang district in Surat Thani province, according to officials. The transfer was made for medical use, in line with a growing focus in the coastal region on cannabis-based preparations in treatment. Health providers there have in recent years increasingly specialized in the therapeutic use of such products.
Evidence of a well-established route
Customs authorities on Samui viewed the finds as evidence of a well-established route used by tourists to move illegal drugs from the island to Europe via international hubs. Singapore functioned as the main transit point, with British holidaymakers considered the primary suspects. Officials said the cannabis was intended for street sale abroad.