For the past couple of months, the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok has noted a significant increase in the number of Filipino nationals arrested for the possession of illegal substance/s upon entering Thailand at the Suvarnabhumi International airport and at the country’s borders with Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The most recent arrests made by Thai immigration and police authorities at the Suvarnabhumi airport involved three (3) Filipinas for the possession of between about 2 and 5 kg of cocaine on three separate occasions (22 March 2010 from Peru, 13 April from Brazil and 4 May from Peru). A West African drug gang is believed to be behind a large-scale operation whereby Filipino nationals are “hired” are drug mules.

At the Thai-Myanmar border, two Filipinos were arrested on 3 May 2010 for the possession of over 5 kg of methamphetamine. On an earlier arrest in June last year, a Filipina was arrested for the possession of 13 kg of marijuana which she was told was slimming tea to be brought from Laos to Thailand through the border.

In Thailand, the law prescribes the death penalty for carrying category I narcotics (heroin) "for the purpose of disposal". However, the death penalty for drug trafficking has not been imposed since 2004, but rehabilitation counseling is often imposed on convicted drug users.

In view of this development, Filipino nationals and travelers bound for Thailand are strongly advised to be wary of accepting and carrying packages, bags, luggage, etc., from friends and, especially, people whom they have only met recently. This warning is given especially to those who are approached by complete strangers or newly-found acquaintances with an offer of money in exchange for transporting certain packages on the latter’s behalf.