Two Uzbek men arrested with 31.53kg of cannabis at Phuket airport
Customs officers at Phuket International Airport arrested two Uzbek men after finding 31.53kg of cannabis products in their suitcases during departure baggage inspections on July 1.
Two Uzbek nationals were arrested at Phuket International Airport after customs officers found a combined 31.53 kilogrammes of cannabis products in their luggage during baggage inspections at the international departures terminal.
The arrests were made at about 11am on July 1 after X-ray scans revealed suspicious contents in the passengers’ suitcases, according to officials.
The first suspect, 26-year-old Nursayid Mukhiddinovich Mukhiddinov, was found carrying 30 vacuum-sealed bags of dried cannabis flowers weighing 9.8kg, eight bags of cannabis resin weighing 4.1kg, and processed cannabis weighing 2kg. Officials said the total weight, including packaging, was about 15.9kg.
The second suspect, also 26, Bunyodboy Jalilboyevich Juraboev, was found with 30 vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis flowers weighing 9.8kg, cannabis resin weighing 4.8kg, and 14 blocks of processed cannabis weighing 1.03kg, for a total of about 15.63kg including packaging.
Customs officers said both men admitted ownership of their luggage and voluntarily opened the suitcases for inspection after being summoned to the Baggage Inspection Room following the X-ray screening. Officials confirmed that the seized cannabis products matched the suspicious items identified during the baggage scans.
Both men were charged with attempting to export goods from the Kingdom without customs clearance under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017), along with offences under the Narcotics Code, the Thai Traditional Medicine Protection and Promotion Act, and Ministry of Public Health regulations governing controlled cannabis products.
The suspects and the seized evidence were handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for further legal action.
The operation was carried out by customs officials at Phuket International Airport in cooperation with police and other relevant agencies under the supervision of Sakhu Police Superintendent Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul.
The arrests come as authorities continue to tighten enforcement against attempts to illegally export cannabis products following changes to Thailand’s cannabis regulations.
