Customs Arrest Malaysian Man Trying to Smuggle 20kg Cannabis
Padang Besar customs officers arrested a Malaysian man attempting to smuggle over 20 kilograms of cannabis flower hidden in his car. The drugs, worth more than 300,000 baht, were discovered in a concealed compartment behind the rear seats. The suspect faces charges under Thai customs law and could also be subject to Malaysia’s death penalty for drug trafficking.
Padang Besar customs arrested a Malaysian man trying to hide cannabis flower in the back of a car and drive it across the border, weighing over 20 kilograms and worth more than 300,000 baht. Dated 16 October 2026, Padang Besar Customs Director Harin Ohwang said officers detained the man on 15 October at the outbound lane of Padang Besar Customs in Sadao, Songkhla. A search revealed a secret compartment behind the rear seats that had been altered to hold 800 packages of cannabis, each 250 grams, totaling over 20 kilograms. Initially, the attempt to export cannabis is punishable under Sections 242 and 252 of the Customs Act BE 2560 and the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Wisdom Act BE 2542. Furthermore, cannabis flower is classified as a narcotic in Malaysia under its Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
