The arrests, carried out by Phuket Airport Customs and Sakhu Police, come just one day after a Russian national was detained at the airport with 17.6kg of cannabis, marking the latest in a growing series of attempted cannabis smuggling cases at the airport.
The first arrest was made at about 11am in the international departures terminal when officers inspected a black Pierre Cardin suitcase belonging to 18-year-old Filipino national Levannah Chelsea Guzman.
Inside the suitcase, officers found 14 vacuum-sealed bags containing cannabis flowers weighing a total of 14.5kg, including packaging.
According to officials, Ms Guzman admitted ownership of the suitcase and its contents.
She was charged with attempting to export goods from Thailand without customs clearance under the Customs Act, along with offences under the Narcotics Code, the Thai Traditional Medicine Protection and Promotion Act and regulations governing controlled cannabis.
About two hours later, at around 1pm, officers searched a green ‘Swish Navy’ suitcase (a copy of the ‘Swiss Navy’ brand) belonging to Thai national Penpicha Pudsiang.
The inspection uncovered 16 vacuum-sealed bags containing 17.6kg of cannabis flowers, including packaging, concealed inside the luggage.
Police said Ms Penpicha also admitted ownership of the suitcase and the cannabis. She faces the same charges as the Filipino suspect.
Both women were taken to Sakhu Police Station along with the seized cannabis for further legal proceedings.
The latest arrests continue a sharp rise in cannabis export cases at Phuket International Airport.
Yesterday, The Phuket News reported the arrest of 30-year-old Russian national Sergei Chalabari after officers allegedly found 11.4kg of cannabis flowers and 6.2kg of cannabis resin hidden in two suitcases.
A 21-year-old Belgian woman was arrested with 31.7kg of cannabis concealed in her luggage on Tuesday (July 7), while on July 1 two Uzbek men were detained after authorities allegedly discovered a combined 31.5kg of cannabis flowers, cannabis resin and processed cannabis in their bags.
Despite the succession of arrests, officials have yet to explain the apparent surge in cannabis smuggling attempts through Phuket International Airport.
Authorities have also not identified any common organiser or trafficking network behind the cases, nor disclosed the intended destinations of the seized cannabis.