A British man faces 10 years in a Thai prison after allegedly being caught with 38kg of cannabis while trying to board a flight to London.
Daniel James Hallett, 38, was detained while at Krabi International Airport last weekend after customs officers flagged his bags as suspicious.
They then allegedly found 35 packages of cannabis vacuum-sealed in his luggage and wrapped in multiple bags to hide the smell.
Hallet, from Hull, runs a haulage company and is being held in Nuea Khlong District police station during the investigation, according to The Telegraph.
Apichat Jinaphen, superintendent of the police station, told local media: « In this case, [Hallett] was arrested for attempting to export goods that had not undergone customs clearance, in violation of the customs act.
« As well as the traditional Thai medicine protection and promotion act regarding controlled herbs (cannabis) for commercial purposes.
« He was held at the police station for two days before being taken to court. The legal penalty includes imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine, or both, in addition to the confiscation of the seized items. The final decision will be made by the court. »
Thailand made low-dose cannabis legal in 2022, prompting thousnads of dispensaries to pop up across the country in the following years.
However, it is still illegal to import or export the drug – a crime that comes with heavy punishment.
Jinaphen urged tourists to be more aware of Thai rules on cannabis as other visitors have been caught trying to get it out the country.
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