The arrests were made at about 11am yesterday (July 1) during baggage inspections at the international departures terminal, following X-ray scans that revealed suspicious contents in the passengers’ suitcases.
The first suspect, 26-year-old Uzbek national 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, for a total of approximately 15.9kg including packaging.
The second suspect, also 26-year-old Uzbek national 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, totalling approximately 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 (BIR) following the X-ray screening.
The seized cannabis products matched the suspicious items identified during the baggage scans, officials confirmed.
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 the Ministry of Public Health’s regulations governing controlled cannabis products.
Following the arrests, 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.