Southeast Asian customs cannabis and contraband enforcement

Customs authorities in Thailand and Vietnam have increased enforcement against the illegal transport of cannabis and other prohibited goods through major international airports.

In Thailand, officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrested 40 foreign travelers between October 1 and October 24, 2026, for attempting to export cannabis flowers without authorization. Authorities seized 577 kilograms of cannabis valued at approximately 5.8 million baht. This enforcement follows government directives to prevent the country from becoming a transit hub for drug trafficking. Since the start of 2026, Thai customs have recorded 517 arrests and intercepted over 10.6 tonnes of cannabis.

In Vietnam, customs at Noi Bai International Airport intercepted prohibited items during October 2026. In one instance, officials identified suspicious luggage containing 405.5 sticks of prohibited heated tobacco. In a separate incident on October 25, 2026, officers discovered more than 25.4 kg of cannabis in the luggage of a Spanish national traveling to France. These cases, involving vacuum-sealed packages of suspected cannabis and undeclared TEREA brand heated tobacco products, have been transferred to the Hanoi Police Department's Drug Crime Investigation Division for further investigation.