UK-bound cannabis seized

More than 1.3 tonnes of dry cannabis buds bound for the United Kingdom have been seized by the Customs Department at Laem Chabang Port.
Direk Khacharak, director of Laem Chabang Port Customs Office, said yesterday that the office had cooperated with international regulators and found two batches of goods suspected to be illegal on Sept 11 and 16.
According to their export documents, these goods were to be shipped to the UK. The first batch included three pallets of rubber tiles for fitness centres, and the second included four pallets of cloth gloves.
However, Customs officers inspected the two batches and discovered that the first batch consisted of 153.3 kilogrammes of cannabis buds worth 5 million baht, while the second shipment was 1.3 tonnes of cannabis buds worth 20 million baht.
It was estimated that these cannabis products would be worth 100 million baht in the UK, Mr Direk said.
The case involved providing false information about exported goods to circumvent restrictions, which is a crime under Sections 202, 244, and 252 of the Customs Act BE 2560 (2017).
Cannabis is a controlled herb under Thai law. Those who wish to export or sell cannabis products are required to obtain a licence under Section 46 of the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act BE 2542.