In the past six months, six Dutch citizens have been arrested at Thai airports with large quantities of cannabis. This is striking because it hardly ever happened before, says ambassador Remco van Wijngaarden to NU.nl. The embassy says it can do little for the arrested Dutch citizens.
The arrested Dutch citizens were found with between 20 and 60 kilos of cannabis. They had it with them in suitcases and wanted to take it back with them after their stay in Thailand. In some cases, the cannabis in the suitcases was clearly smelled.
The cultivation and consumption of cannabis in Thailand have been allowed since 2022, although there are still restrictions. People may not know that the export of cannabis is one of those restrictions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since adjusted the travel advice for Thailand: it now explicitly states that you may not take cannabis out of the country without a permit. “We felt compelled to do this,” says Van Wijngaarden. He emphasizes that the embassy cannot provide legal assistance. “Whoever is arrested here is at the mercy of the Thai authorities.”
Because cannabis is not prohibited in Thailand, it is much cheaper there than in other countries. This may make exporting to Europe attractive. Dutch weed is often up to fifteen times more expensive.
‘Miserable conditions’ in Thai prisons
The majority of the arrested Dutch citizens, men and women between the ages of 20 and 58, are in custody. Fines of up to 10,000 euros have been issued. So far, the most severe punishment has been one year in prison. “But that does not guarantee that heavier punishments will not be imposed in the future,” says Van Wijngaarden.
The ambassador speaks of “miserable conditions” in Thai prisons. Dutch citizens do not speak the language, and it is hot and overcrowded. “An employee of the embassy recently visited an arrested Dutch citizen for the first time. She came back shocked.”
The embassy maintains contact with the Dutch detainees. “They say they didn’t know they were doing anything wrong,” says Van Wijngaarden. “I like to believe in people’s innocence, although it may also be traded in.”
Stricter approach in Thailand
The stricter controls in Thailand appear to be partly the result of complaints from other countries about smuggled Thai cannabis. For example, more than fifty British citizens have been arrested at Thai airports since July last year, reports BBC News.
Van Wijngaarden says that detainees from other countries also indicate through their embassies that they did not know they were doing anything illegal.
More and more people are also being arrested at Schiphol Airport. In 2023, seven people were arrested with Thai cannabis compared to thirty in 2024. This year the counter is already at 27. Customs does not disclose the identity of the arrestees. It is also unclear whether the increase has to do with stricter controls at Schiphol.