Thai Customs officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrested 40 people and seized 577 kilograms of cannabis flowers, worth about 5.8 million baht, between 1 and 24 October 2026.[1][2] Most of those arrested were foreign nationals, Customs Department director-general Phanthong Loykulnanan said, as checks on departing passengers and cargo were stepped up.[1][2]
Indian nationals were the largest group among those arrested in the 24-day period, with 11 cases, followed by seven Chinese nationals and five British nationals; Customs also reported arrests of visitors from Europe and the Americas, including Canada, Spain and Portugal.[1][2]
The figures were released on 25 October, after the government instructed Customs to increase random inspections of outbound goods and luggage in cooperation with Airports of Thailand, to stop Thailand being used as a transit route for cross-border drug trafficking.[1][2] From January to October 2026, Customs recorded 517 arrests linked to attempted cannabis-flower exports and seized 10,628 kg in total.[1][2]
Cannabis flowers may only be taken out of Thailand for medical use with permission; taking them abroad without authorisation is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to 30,000 baht per kilogram.[1][2]