For the time being, just say no

I have had many drug-smuggling cases pass my desk over the years, and a common story line goes like this:

The offender was backpacking around the world and while in Thailand and staying on Kao San Road, he or she ran out of money. At a coffee shop or a pub, they ran into someone who told them they could earn money if they took a package to Hong Kong or Tokyo. Enjoying the sense of invincibility most young people have, they accepted the offer. (Shockingly the fee offered to the “mule” is typically a mere US$1,000 to $1,500 plus a ticket home.) So they pack the drugs and head for the airport. Their arrest reports read something like, “acting on a tip from an anonymous source, police stopped John Smith boarding *** Airlines flight# 1234 bound for *** and found x amount of drugs on his person/bag”. 

Most of us who regularly travel in and out of the Kingdom rarely see customs officers as we exit. One generally clears the security scans, then it’s down the escalator and off to the departure gates. So it’s likely that drugs are either detected during the security scan or via a tip-off that enables security officials to detain the suspect. The latter case may be a deliberate tactic that enables a second carrier to pass undetected. Note that the authorities will often reward those who inform on drug smugglers and distributors. 

Over 68 per cent of all convicted prisoners in Thailand are imprisoned on narcotics or narcotic-related offences. And most foreigner prisoners are in jail on drug-related charges. Punishment for convictions can range from 10 years to life in prison, and even death in some rare cases. It’s hard to fathom taking such a huge risk for such a small reward. Most foreigners convicted of drug offences (and most other serious criminal offences) face immediate deportation after completing their allotted punishment and are reported to Interpol, though they may challenge deportation.

While airport drug arrests have decreased recently, likely due to increased efficiency of security screening and publicity, smuggling into Thailand at border crossings is on the increase, with methamphetamines such as yaba being the chief drug of choice. In addition, with the exception of highly potent marijuana (ganja), Thailand is not generally a manufacturing or growing source for common narcotics. However, the number of users here has been on the rise in recent years.

Thailand is among the 190 members of the International Criminal Police Organisation, more commonly known as Interpol. Singapore is host to Interpol’s Global Complex for Innovation, a research and development facility for the identification of crimes and criminals. While Interpol doesn’t actually arrest people, it does issue warnings and notices of arrest warrants between its members.

Interpol keeps records of drug convictions, those arrested for drug possession, and those being investigated by narcotics police as suspected traffickers, users, possessors or sellers. These records are shared with member countries and warnings issued – so what happens in Thailand doesn’t necessarily stay in Thailand! 

While many countries have decriminalised the personal or medical use of marijuana, Thailand is not among them and has no current plan to do so. Possession of marijuana is treated seriously and the punishments may be harsh. So the bottom line is, no matter what your opinion on the legalisation or decriminalisation of recreational drug or marijuana use – and there are certainly valid arguments on both sides of the issue – the fact remains that in Thailand it’s still very much against the law and dealt with seriously by authorities. So, for now, take Nancy Reagan’s advice and just say no.