French tourists say free Thailand holidays led to cannabis arrests

At least 11 French nationals have been arrested in Thailand after cannabis was found in their luggage, with some claiming they were deceived into carrying locked bags in exchange for free holidays, according to French media reports.

France’s National Police told broadcaster RTL that the suspects were charged with attempting to smuggle drugs out of Thailand. Some remain in police custody under rules that French media said are now being applied more strictly.

French reports said people previously arrested after cannabis was found in their luggage could initially return to France while the drugs were retained as evidence. Under the newer rules, suspects who do not pay a customs-office fine can be detained while awaiting trial.

RTL reported the fine at B30,000 for one kilogramme of cannabis, equivalent to about €790. Cannabis smuggling can carry a prison sentence of between two and 10 years, according to the report.

Families of several detainees told French media that their relatives had fallen victim to a scheme they called the “Thailand plan”. They alleged that criminal gangs offered travellers free holidays in Thailand in return for bringing luggage back to France, saying the travellers had been told the bags contained mobile phones.

AFP reported that a 20-year-old French national was arrested during his return journey in June after Thai airport officials found 16.8 kilogrammes of cannabis in locked luggage. The man said he did not have the combination to open the bags. He also told investigators that a person who contacted him through Snapchat had funded his trip, although it was not established whether he knew what the luggage contained.

French media further reported that two other French nationals were arrested in Hong Kong after cannabis was found in luggage they had unknowingly carried from Thailand.

France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has urged citizens to monitor changes to Thailand’s cannabis laws and comply with local regulations. The ministry is providing consular assistance to French nationals held in Thailand and said an investigation would examine the alleged scheme and any wider network behind it.