‘Red flags were everywhere': Aussie teen's warning to travellers after Thailand ordeal
Mia Pacor was 16 when she travelled to Phuket with her family in 2023. While exploring the city, she said she and her friend Jack crossed paths with a couple in their mid-30s — an encounter that seemed friendly at first but soon left them feeling deeply unsettled.
Later that evening, she said the pair snuck out of their hotel after receiving messages from the couple inviting them to meet at a bar on Bangla Road.
Looking back on the incident in a TikTok video shared on Friday, Ms Pacor said it was a decision that would weigh on her for years.
'Red flags were everywhere,' she said.
'They were 35. We should have just known that this was not going to be a good idea.'
Once they arrived, the couple insisted on covering everything.
'They shouted us about 10 drinks each … honestly, we didn't have to pay for a single thing.'
The group continued to a well-known Phuket nightclub called Illuzion, where the couple allegedly ordered shisha and kept pushing boundaries. According to Ms Pacor, the man then tried to isolate Jack by urging him into the bathroom.
Jack later explained he initially resisted, but went along as he needed to use the toilet.
'He pulled me away and said, 'Come over here, bro.' He was offering me coke,' he said.
Both were aware of the harsh legal risks of drug use in Thailand.
'Obviously, if you get caught having drugs in your system in Thailand, you are facing the death penalty,' Ms Pacor said.
Thailand's anti-drug laws are strict, but a small amount of cocaine will not land you the death penalty. Execution is reserved for large-scale trafficking.
Possession of Category 1 drugs, such as heroin or amphetamines, can lead to life imprisonment if you are caught.
Category 2 substances like cocaine or morphine carry penalties ranging from steep fines to several years behind bars.
While her friend was in the bathroom, Ms Pacor said the woman made her own approach.
'She was like, 'Do you want to do this?' I was like, no. Then she said, 'Come on. It's fun. We know a good guy who gives it to us',' she continued.
Even after Ms Pacor refused, she said the woman reassured her it was safe and wouldn't cost anything.
'They clearly worked with the police,' Mia claimed. 'I knew that they were just off.'
There is currently no evidence to suggest the older couple were employed by the police.
She mentioned in a follow-up comment that the older couple were 'Australian'.
She added that neither member of the couple appeared to be taking drugs themselves, which made the situation feel even more suspicious.
The teens left the club around 4am and allegedly returned to their hotel.
They slept in and missed breakfast, which didn't go unnoticed by their families.
'All our family was like banging on our door for hours,' Ms Pacor recalled. 'The whole day they were just asking us so many questions. We were just denying it over and over again.'
Although the incident was brushed aside at the time, it resurfaced weeks later when Mia decided to come clean.
'My dad was so disappointed,' she said.
While there were seemingly no repercussions, Mia did no offer any further insight into why they became the target of the couple.
News.com.au has reached out to Ms Pacor for further comment.
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