Belgian Woman Caught With 31.7kg Cannabis At Phuket Airport

A 21-year-old Belgian tourist was arrested at Phuket International Airport on July 7, 2025, after authorities discovered cannabis hidden in two pieces of luggage as she prepared to board an international flight. Officers at the international departures terminal inspected two suspicious bags—one green-and-white and one black—belonging to the young tourist, and found 12 packages of vacuum-sealed cannabis buds totaling 28.3 kilograms, plus 8 packages of processed cannabis weighing 3.4 kilograms, for a total of approximately 31.7 kilograms.

The suspect initially admitted that the luggage and all contraband belonged to her. She now faces charges for attempting to export undeclared goods in violation of the Customs Act of 2017, as well as violations of the Narcotics Control Laws, the Traditional Thai Medicine Act of 1999, and a 2025 Public Health Ministry announcement regarding controlled botanical substances including cannabis. Officers transferred her and the seized materials to Saku Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Police Colonel Slan Santhisatsanangu, commander of Saku Police Station, stated that this case resulted from integrated cooperation between security and customs agencies in conducting strict passenger and baggage inspections at Phuket International Airport to prevent smuggling of illegal items out of the country. He emphasized that all offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.