British man arrested for selling drugs to foreign tourists in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office arrested a British man after he sold drugs targeting foreign tourists in the province over the past six months.

Immigration officers observed the Englishman, identified only as Daniel, displaying suspicious behaviour. Daniel was a partner in a cannabis shop on Chang Moi Road in the province. The main owner of the shop was a Thai national who legally registered the store.

In addition to advising customers about cannabis, Daniel was found to be promoting his drugs to them. He had secretly sold drugs for more than six months before his arrest yesterday, November 12.

Officers searched Daniel’s backpack and accommodation, confiscating various types of drugs, including 21.61 grammes of crystal meth, 10 ecstasy pills, 6.56 grammes of ketamine, and 10.10 grammes of cocaine.

The Superintendent of the provincial immigration office, Surachai Iamphueng, reported to Channel 7 that officers also suspect Daniel of smuggling cannabis from Thailand to foreign countries. Further investigation will be conducted to verify this suspicion.

There is no report on whether Daniel’s Thai business partner was involved in the criminal activity. Police have not planned to summon the Thai national for questioning, according to Channel 7’s report.

Daniel is charged under Section 66 of the Narcotics Act for possessing less than 100 grammes of drugs for sale. The penalty includes imprisonment from five years to life and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 baht. He will be deported from the country and banned for 10 years after receiving his punishment.

In a related report, a British and a Dutchman were arrested at their condominium in Bangkok last week for smuggling drugs into the country. The two men were identified as the recipients of a drug package sent from the UK by air.

In the parcel, officials found 210 grammes of ecstasy. Additionally, more than 37 grammes of cannabis were found in another condo room and a rented house. The cannabis was packed in vacuum-sealed bags ready for delivery, prompting suspicions that they were involved in smuggling cannabis from Thailand to foreign countries.