Thai couple bring 24kg of cannabis to Japan in luggage mix-up
A Thai couple and their tour guide narrowly avoided charges after the couple mistakenly took the wrong luggage, belonging to a foreigner, and entered Japan with 24 kilogrammes of cannabis, which is illegal in the country.
A Thai tour guide posted in a Facebook group called กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (meaning a group for anyone who loves travelling around Japan) on Friday, March 14, to caution travellers and question Thai airports’ luggage inspection standards.
The tour guide explained that a Thai woman booked a trip to Japan for her parents through a travel agency where he works. The flights, hotels, and other bookings were made under the daughter’s name.
The couple flew from Surat Thani to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok to catch a connecting flight to Japan with other members of the tour group. The daughter packed two suitcases for her parents: one black and one red.
Upon arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the couple collected their luggage from the baggage carousel. While the red suitcase was correct, the black suitcase was not. Unaware of their mistake, they waited for four hours at the airport before boarding their flight to Narita International Airport in Japan.
Over nine-hour questioning
The error was only discovered upon arrival in Japan when the couple were unable to unlock the black suitcase. They immediately informed the tour guide, who decided to force the suitcase open to check its contents. To his shock, he found 24 kilogrammes of dried cannabis packed inside.
The tour guide reported the incident to customs officers at Narita Airport, leading to lengthy questioning from 8am to 5.30pm. During this time, neither the guide nor the couple were allowed to eat or drink until their innocence could be established.
The group was finally released around 6pm. They were supposed to enjoy views of Mount Fuji but instead had to stay at a hotel near the airport.
The guide revealed that the foreign owner of the luggage and the cannabis had contacted Suvarnabhumi Airport officials while the Thai couple were still at the airport.
However, officials were unable to reach the couple because all bookings had been made under their daughter’s name and contact details. Although officers tried to reach the daughter, she did not answer the phone.
The tour guide warned Thai tourists to be vigilant when collecting their belongings from the baggage carousel as such mistakes could lead to serious complications.
He also questioned airport officials in both Bangkok and Surat Thani regarding their procedures for detecting illegal substances in luggage, arguing that the foreigner’s suitcase should not have passed through security checks in Thailand.
Additionally, the tour guide provided legal information, noting that possessing more than 30 grammes or 30 millilitres of cannabis is illegal according to the Royal Gazette. He further stated that transporting such a large quantity of cannabis, like the 24 kilogrammes in question, would require an official permit.
Many netizens questioned whether the foreign owner of the cannabis would face charges. However, the tour guide admitted he did not know the answer. One user claimed that the foreign man had already arrived in South Korea and might be unwilling to return to Thailand to face potential legal consequences.
Suvarnabhumi Airport later issued an official statement defending its inspection procedures. The airport stressed that officials conducted luggage checks according to the rules and laws.
The suitcase was allowed onboard because the inspection device did not detect any dangerous substances, and the ability to identify cannabis was beyond the device’s capabilities.
Nevertheless, staff at check-in counters advised all passengers to familiarise themselves with the cannabis regulations of their destinations before travelling.
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