Thailand detains eleven French citizens for suspected drug trafficking

At least eleven French citizens have been detained in Thailand since the beginning of the summer on suspicion of drug trafficking. Authorities discovered several kilograms of cannabis in the luggage of the detainees during airport inspections.

Family members and investigators suggest the individuals may have been victims of a sophisticated scam organized via Snapchat, referred to as the ‘Plan Thaïlande’. The scheme reportedly offered young people free flights, accommodation, and remuneration in exchange for transporting suitcases that were claimed to contain only smartphones.

One specific case involves a 20-year-old man arrested while traveling from Thailand to Hong Kong and eventually toward Paris; customs officials discovered 16.8 kilograms of cannabis in a locked suitcase for which the travelers did not have the combination. The French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (Pnaco) is aware of the phenomenon, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the families.