Latest news with #OperationChaophraya
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
How Thai gangsters are luring naive Brit teens like Bella into drug mule trade in exchange for boozy paradise holidays
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THAI gangs are turning more and more British backpackers into drug mules, law enforcement authorities have warned. The cases of trafficking suspects Bella Culley, 18, and Charlotte Lee, 21, ramped up fears gangs have launched unprecedented recruitment drives in search of huge profits. 9 Teenager Bella Culley went missing in Thailand two weeks ago Credit: Social media - Refer to source 9 She since emerged in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia, and now faces life in prison after being accused of hiding drugs in her luggage Credit: East2West 9 Charlotte May Lee from Surrey flew from the same airport as Bella, and is being held in a Sri Lanka prison having been accused of smuggling £1.2million worth of drugs And experts believe the twin arrests within hours of each other could herald a future flood - leaving parents across the UK facing their worst nightmares. Gangs run by British criminals based in Thailand have for years relied on postal deliveries of drug stashes from the Far East but have been rocked by a crackdown. And they are now tempting potential mules with free paradise holidays, unlimited booze, drugs and a £2,000 payout if they agree to carry their illicit wares back home. Kingpins based in hotspots including Thailand's Koh Samui are offering bigger rewards than ever to vulnerable and impressionable youngsters after profit margins rocketed. Since cannabis was legalised in Thailand in 2018 it has become so cheap on the streets that gangs who export to the UK can make an astonishing 3,000 per cent mark-up. British and Thai authorities joined forces to launch the Operation Chaophraya anti-mule drive last July and have been stunned by the scale of the recruitment campaign. An incredible 800 people - including 50 Britons - have been held in Thailand for alleged drug smuggling since last July, with more than nine tons of cannabis seized. In March a series of arrests at Koh Samui Airport exposed a sophisticated cannabis smuggling operation using mostly British tourists to ferry suitcases of narcotics. Over four days immigration police arrested 13 foreign nationals attempting to smuggle £1.7 million to the UK - where it would have been peddled for far higher prices. Investigators have revealed Thai gangs are now routinely attempting to confuse border officials by using fresh-faced Brits who fly to other countries before carrying drugs back home. Brit 'drug smuggler' Bella Culley 'starving' in ex-Soviet hell prison - as she reveals pregnancy craving to celeb lawyer Teenage travellers of the Instagram generation are being dazzled by the faux glamour of the luxury lifestyle offered by manipulative gangsters. And too many are blind to the enormous, potentially life-changing risks they are taking, law enforcement chiefs say. Banged up Bubbly backpacker Bella jetted off for fun in the sun then left her family frantic with worry when she went missing in Thailand two weeks ago. But there was little celebration when she was found - 4,000 miles away from the Thai capital in a court in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia accused of attempting to smuggle cannabis worth £200,000. Bella, of Billingham, County Durham, is facing a sentence of up to life in prison. She went on to tell the court tearfully that she was having a baby. 9 Bella tearfully told the court she is expecting a baby Credit: Social media - Refer to source 9 Her family believe she flew to Thailand to meet a mystery man who may be linked to a drug mule operation Credit: @ 9 Pictures from Georgian broadcasters show the drug Bella is accused of smuggling Credit: Unpixs Her family say she flew to the Far East on holiday to meet a mystery man - believed to be the baby's father - called 'Ross or Russ'. He introduced her to Brits from the north west of England suspected of running drug mules from Thailand. The naive teenager joked online with the mystery man of 'Bonnie and Clyde' hijinks in the Far East while showing off cash wads and was pictured smoking a spliff. It's hard to imagine what Bella's dad Niel (ckd) must be feeling right now as he battles red tape trying to find out how on earth his daughter wound up in Tbilisi, pregnant and in jail. I've spoken to him several times and can see he's a man at his wit's end in a situation made worse by his inability to make sense of it. The 49-year-old oil rig electrician looks haunted as he paces around outside his hotel in the picture postcard capital waiting for news while puffing on cigarettes. He wants answers but is being advised by the British Embassy to speak to no one and appears totally baffled by his daughter's plight. Evidence has already emerged that a major mule recruitment drive is underway UK-based source His only legal point of contact so far is Georgian 'taxi rank' legal aid lawyer Ia Todua. At the time of writing, it's believed Bella has yet to explain how or why she got here to her own lawyer - let alone her family. Celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili - a former contestant of Georgia's Strictly Come Dancing - saw Bella face-to-face in jail on Monday and came out convinced she the youngster is a "victim" and has been manipulated. Terrifying fate Bella's flight took off from the same Bangkok airport within hours of another pretty British trafficking suspect arrested with £1.2 million of a cannabis-related drug in Sri Lanka. Former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was in a gruesome Sri Lankan jail cell last night awaiting a court appearance. It's still unclear whether this is the fate that has befallen Bella or Charlotte as both languish in cells. 9 Former air stewardess Charlotte, 21, could be sent to the country's notorious maximum security prison which is severely overcrowded 9 She is accused of smuggling 46kg of kush Credit: Police Handout 9 Bella, meanwhile, is currently being held in a hell hole ex-Soviet prison in the country's capital Credit: . But inquiries I've made since arriving to work on the story should serve as a warning to all young British trippers looking for backpacking adventures in the Far East. Every young Brit abroad in the holiday hotspots this summer should take heed and be wary of strangers offering gifts - and promises of free fun that seem too good to be true. A crime source based in the UK with knowledge of the growing threat told me: 'Evidence has already emerged that a major mule recruitment drive is underway. 'Young people from the UK are being targeted with the aim of reaching the UK after stopping off at European destinations en route to cover their tracks. 'And they are being offered more tempting rewards than ever as the gangs target bigger profits. 'We can't stop backpackers travelling and having fun but they should be careful who they talk to and never carry bags or packages onto planes for anyone. 'No matter how much they're offered - it won't be worth spending 20 years regretting it in a hellhole prison.'
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
How Thai gangsters are luring naive Brit teens like Bella into drug mule trade in exchange for boozy paradise holidays
THAI gangs are turning more and more British backpackers into drug mules, law enforcement authorities have warned. The cases of trafficking suspects Bella Culley, 18, and Charlotte Lee, 21, ramped up fears gangs have launched unprecedented recruitment drives in search of huge profits. 9 9 9 And experts believe the twin arrests within hours of each other could herald a future flood - leaving parents across the UK facing their worst nightmares. Gangs run by British criminals based in Thailand have for years relied on postal deliveries of drug stashes from the Far East but have been rocked by a crackdown. And they are now tempting potential mules with free paradise holidays, unlimited booze, drugs and a £2,000 payout if they agree to carry their illicit wares back home. Kingpins based in hotspots including Thailand's Koh Samui are offering bigger rewards than ever to vulnerable and impressionable youngsters after profit margins rocketed. Since cannabis was legalised in Thailand in 2018 it has become so cheap on the streets that gangs who export to the UK can make an astonishing 3,000 per cent mark-up. British and Thai authorities joined forces to launch the Operation Chaophraya anti-mule drive last July and have been stunned by the scale of the recruitment campaign. An incredible 800 people - including 50 Britons - have been held in Thailand for alleged drug smuggling since last July, with more than nine tons of cannabis seized. In March a series of arrests at Koh Samui Airport exposed a sophisticated cannabis smuggling operation using mostly British tourists to ferry suitcases of narcotics. Over four days immigration police arrested 13 foreign nationals attempting to smuggle £1.7 million to the UK - where it would have been peddled for far higher prices. Investigators have revealed Thai gangs are now routinely attempting to confuse border officials by using fresh-faced Brits who fly to other countries before carrying drugs back home. Brit 'drug smuggler' Bella Culley 'starving' in ex-Soviet hell prison - as she reveals pregnancy craving to celeb lawyer Teenage travellers of the Instagram generation are being dazzled by the faux glamour of the luxury lifestyle offered by manipulative gangsters. And too many are blind to the enormous, potentially life-changing risks they are taking, law enforcement chiefs say. Banged up Bubbly backpacker Bella jetted off for fun in the sun then left her family frantic with worry when she went missing in Thailand two weeks ago. But there was little celebration when she was found - 4,000 miles away from the Thai capital in a court in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia accused of attempting to smuggle cannabis worth £200,000. Bella, of Billingham, County Durham, is facing a sentence of up to life in prison. She went on to tell the court tearfully that she was having a baby. 9 9 Her family say she flew to the Far East on holiday to meet a mystery man - believed to be the baby's father - called 'Ross or Russ'. He introduced her to Brits from the north west of England suspected of running drug mules from Thailand. The naive teenager joked online with the mystery man of 'Bonnie and Clyde' hijinks in the Far East while showing off cash wads and was pictured smoking a spliff. It's hard to imagine what Bella's dad Niel (ckd) must be feeling right now as he battles red tape trying to find out how on earth his daughter wound up in Tbilisi, pregnant and in jail. I've spoken to him several times and can see he's a man at his wit's end in a situation made worse by his inability to make sense of it. The 49-year-old oil rig electrician looks haunted as he paces around outside his hotel in the picture postcard capital waiting for news while puffing on cigarettes. He wants answers but is being advised by the British Embassy to speak to no one and appears totally baffled by his daughter's plight. His only legal point of contact so far is Georgian 'taxi rank' legal aid lawyer Ia Todua. At the time of writing, it's believed Bella has yet to explain how or why she got here to her own lawyer - let alone her family. Celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili - a former contestant of Georgia's Strictly Come Dancing - saw Bella face-to-face in jail on Monday and came out convinced she the youngster is a "victim" and has been manipulated. Terrifying fate Bella's flight took off from the same Bangkok airport within hours of another pretty British trafficking suspect arrested with £1.2 million of a cannabis-related drug in Sri Lanka. Former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was in a gruesome Sri Lankan jail cell last night awaiting a court appearance. It's still unclear whether this is the fate that has befallen Bella or Charlotte as both languish in cells. 9 9 9 But inquiries I've made since arriving to work on the story should serve as a warning to all young British trippers looking for backpacking adventures in the Far East. Every young Brit abroad in the holiday hotspots this summer should take heed and be wary of strangers offering gifts - and promises of free fun that seem too good to be true. A crime source based in the UK with knowledge of the growing threat told me: 'Evidence has already emerged that a major mule recruitment drive is underway. 'Young people from the UK are being targeted with the aim of reaching the UK after stopping off at European destinations en route to cover their tracks. 'And they are being offered more tempting rewards than ever as the gangs target bigger profits. 'We can't stop backpackers travelling and having fun but they should be careful who they talk to and never carry bags or packages onto planes for anyone. 'No matter how much they're offered - it won't be worth spending 20 years regretting it in a hellhole prison.' Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveals By Patrick Harrington Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: 'Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while. 'Initially most incidents happened at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. But as arrests increased, the security tightened inspections, making it harder for smugglers to operate. 'So they began looking for smaller airports with international flights, which is why they started using Koh Samui, as it operates international flights while still being a very small airport. 'There are a lot of codeshare flights with major airlines that have international transfers in Bangkok where the suitcases are moved between planes and not checked. Then the flights go to the UK. 'Phuket is another airport with international flights to Europe but the airport is bigger and security is more advanced. 'There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand's islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this. 'There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail. 'This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals. 'It's easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa. 'Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods. 'They're usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them. 'These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media. 'The average age is mostly young adults, though not all. There are men, women, and even people with disabilities, all posing as backpackers visiting Thailand for a holiday. 'Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad. 'Upon further investigation, we found that the gangs behind this are entirely based in the UK. The payment varies — some are paid to carry in exchange for clearing debts owed to these gangs. 'Wages differ. Some get £3,000 to £5,000, some only £2,000, and others just have flight tickets and some pocket money. Some accept the chance to have a holiday that is paid for. 'They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand. 'Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market. 'To stop this network, immigration police have coordinated with customs, the Ministry of Public Health, and airport officials. 'In Surat Thani, several people have already been sentenced, some received four months, the longest was six months, depending on the court's decision. 'Some confessed and carried small amounts and were sentenced to four months. Others who recruited, managed, or transported large amounts received six months. 'Currently, there are fewer cases on Koh Samui because of our strict enforcement. Tourists are now looking for other routes instead. 'We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
UK claims 90% drop in mail-order cannabis from Thailand
The amount of cannabis posted to the UK from Thailand has dropped by 90% in three months thanks to cooperation with Thai Customs, the Home Office has said. When Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, a surge of illegal shipments threatened to overwhelm UK Border Force - which uncovered 15 tonnes of the drug in the post in the final quarter of last year. But a new deal requiring parcels from Thailand to be checked before they are shipped meant just three months later the figure had dropped to 1.5 tonnes. Border Minister Seema Malhotra hailed the deal as a "prime example" of international cooperation helping Labour's mission for "safer streets". Millions of vapes seized in illegal trade crackdown Man arrested on suspicion of organising £600k cannabis import Malhotra said: "By stopping these drugs at source, we're disrupting organised crime, protecting communities, and freeing Border Force to focus on other priorities. "Together with our partners in Thailand, this government will continue to take tough action against those attempting to smuggle illegal drugs across our borders." Thai Customs have introduced stricter screening measures at the border which has led to over 800 cannabis smugglers being intercepted between October 2024 and March 2025, the Home Office said. More than nine tonnes of cannabis were seized by Thai authorities over the same period. Last year saw a record number of illegal drug seizures in the UK, with Border Force and police uncovering 119 tonnes, with a street value of £3bn, in the 12 months to March 2024 - an annual increase of 52%, according to the Metropolitan Police said. Separately, the Home office intercepted £6m of cannabis from passengers at Bangkok Airport in a joint operation that saw Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA) officers stationed in Thailand. Since Operation Chaophraya began in July 2024, over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling. Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said: "Our work doesn't stop at the border, we work internationally with our partners to prevent illicit goods from even reaching the UK. "We are using advanced intelligence more than ever before and last year we made a record number of drug seizures, including the highest harm substances. "Border Force remains fully committed to securing our borders and keeping our streets safe."
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
UK claims 90% drop in mail-order cannabis from Thailand
The amount of cannabis posted to the UK from Thailand has dropped by 90% in three months thanks to cooperation with Thai Customs, the Home Office has said. When Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, a surge of illegal shipments threatened to overwhelm UK Border Force - which uncovered 15 tonnes of the drug in the post in the final quarter of last a new deal requiring parcels from Thailand to be checked before they are shipped meant just three months later the figure had dropped to 1.5 Minister Seema Malhotra hailed the deal as a "prime example" of international cooperation helping Labour's mission for "safer streets". Malhotra said: "By stopping these drugs at source, we're disrupting organised crime, protecting communities, and freeing Border Force to focus on other priorities."Together with our partners in Thailand, this government will continue to take tough action against those attempting to smuggle illegal drugs across our borders."Thai Customs have introduced stricter screening measures at the border which has led to over 800 cannabis smugglers being intercepted between October 2024 and March 2025, the Home Office than nine tonnes of cannabis were seized by Thai authorities over the same period. Last year saw a record number of illegal drug seizures in the UK, with Border Force and police uncovering 119 tonnes, with a street value of £3bn, in the 12 months to March 2024 - an annual increase of 52%, according to the Metropolitan Police said. Separately, the Home office intercepted £6m of cannabis from passengers at Bangkok Airport in a joint operation that saw Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA) officers stationed in Operation Chaophraya began in July 2024, over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis Force Director General Phil Douglas said: "Our work doesn't stop at the border, we work internationally with our partners to prevent illicit goods from even reaching the UK."We are using advanced intelligence more than ever before and last year we made a record number of drug seizures, including the highest harm substances."Border Force remains fully committed to securing our borders and keeping our streets safe."
The Independent
25-04-2025
- The Independent
Home Office tackles mail-order dealers after huge amount of cannabis posted to UK
Cannabis arrivals by post from Thailand have dropped by 90% in the first three months of this year following a new agreement between UK and Thai authorities. , the Home Office has said. The Home Office reports a significant drop in illicit cannabis arriving in the UK via mail from Thailand, attributing the success to enhanced pre-shipment checks implemented under the new agreement. Despite the dramatic decrease in postal interceptions, Border Force officials still detected 1.5 tonnes of cannabis entering the UK through the postal system during the first three months of the year. This highlights the ongoing challenge posed by international drug trafficking, even with increased security measures. New rules mean parcels from Thailand must be checked before they are shipped and the Border Force has detected 1.5 tonnes of cannabis coming through the post in the first quarter of 2025. Citizenship and Migration Minister Seema Malhotra praised the collaborative effort between UK Border Force and Thai customs, stating that the extra checks in Thailand have "slashed cannabis smuggling in the post by 90% in just three months". The new procedures require parcels from Thailand to undergo rigorous inspection before being shipped, significantly disrupting the flow of illegal cannabis into the UK. There had been a surge in the amount of cannabis posted to the UK after Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022. Over 15 tonnes of cannabis was detected by Border Force, with the support of Royal Mail, in the last quarter of 2024. Ms Malhotra said: 'By stopping these drugs at source, we're disrupting organised crime, protecting communities, and freeing Border Force to focus on other priorities. 'Together with our partners in Thailand, this Government will continue to take tough action against those attempting to smuggle illegal drugs across our borders.' Over two tonnes of cannabis with an estimated value of £6 million was also surrendered by air passengers in February. The haul was surrendered by transiting passengers as part of Operation Chaophraya, a Home Office-led operation involving Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA) at Bangkok Airport. Over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling since Operation Chaophraya began in July 2024. Border Force director general Phil Douglas said: 'Our work doesn't stop at the border, we work internationally with our partners to prevent illicit goods from even reaching the UK. 'We are using advanced intelligence more than ever before and last year we made a record number of drug seizures, including the highest harm substances. 'Border Force remains fully committed to securing our borders and keeping our streets safe.' Charlotte Prescott, the Royal Mail's director of customs and international policy, said that collaboration between government agencies and postal bodies is 'essential' and there is a 'very strong partnership' with Border Force in trying to tackle this issue. Thai customs have introduced stricter screening measures at the border which has led to over 800 cannabis smugglers being intercepted between October 2024 and March 2025, with over nine tonnes of cannabis seized, the Home Office said. Alex Murray, the NCA's director of threat leadership, described the Thai authorities as 'keen to intervene' in efforts to target high-risk routes, seize drugs shipments of drugs and disrupt crime gangs. He said: 'Couriers should think very carefully about agreeing to smuggle cannabis. 'There are life-changing consequences. 'Crime groups can be very persuasive but the risk of getting caught is very high and simply not worth it.' Theeraj Athanavanich, the director general of Thai Customs, and his delegation visited Heathrow Airport and a Border Force postal depot earlier this week.
