British tourists forced to make compensation faces and point at drugs ‘they smuggled’

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This is the moment four British tourists were caught red-handed trying to smuggle seven suitcases of cannabis out of Thailand.

Security guards in Koh Samui noticed something was fishy when the Brits and a Malysian national tried to get on the plane.

When they looked inside the suitcases, they were shocked to find sealed up bags of cannabis.

In total, all of the cannabis weighed 144kg with a street value of around £345,000.

Cannabis is legal in Thailand, but it is illegal to export it.

Mark Siemaszkiewicz, 46, from the UK.
Mark Siemaszkiewicz, 46, points at the drugs at the airport (Picture: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)

The cannabis was grown on a farm right on the island where the TV series White Lotus was filmed.

The tourists were identified as British passengers Mark Siemaszkiewicz, 46, Richard McMahon, 46, Oluwatosin Peace Adefila, 27, and Bose Esther Fakuade, 26, and Malaysian tourist Tick Chin Tan, 47.

All are accused of trying to take the marijuana out of Thailand via a connecting flight to London Heathrow.

Four British tourists were arrested for allegedlFour British tourists were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle cannabis stuffed in seven giant suitcases from Thailand to the UK. The Brits along with one Malaysian national were pulled aside by suspicious security guards as they were about to board planes at the airport on the island of Koh Samui on March 12. Shocked officials opened the 32-inch long cases to find hundreds of vacuum-sealed bags packed with fresh cannabis buds that had been grown at a farm on the popular island, which was recently the setting for the hit series The White Lotus. The total haul - legal in the country but a crime to export - is said to have weight 144kg (320 lbs). Authorities identified the suspects as British passengers Mark Siemaszkiewicz, 46, Richard McMahon, 46, Oluwatosin Peace Adefila, 27, and Bose Esther Fakuade, 26, and Malaysian tourist Tick Chin Tan, 47. They are accused of trying to take the marijuana out of the country via a connecting flight to London Heathrow. PACKAGE: Video, pictures, text
The large suitcases were jam packed with the drugs (Picture: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)

A police spokesperson said: ‘Mr Mark and Mr Richard were in possession of two suitcases each containing vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis flowers totalling 85 kilogrammes.

‘They were planning to transport the cannabis to London as part of a debt-clearing arrangement.

Richard McMahon, 46, from the UK.
Richard McMahon, 46, pictured with the suitcases and drugs (Picture: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)

‘Miss Peace and Miss Esther, also British citizens, each carried one suitcase containing cannabis flowers (totaling 36 kilograms) for the same destination, London, with an agreed payment of 2,000 EBP each for their efforts.

‘Mr. Tan Chin Tick, 47, had one suitcase with 23 kilogrammes of cannabis, destined for Singapore, with a promised payment of 6,000 Malaysian ringgit.

‘He was then due to take a flight to London.’

The drugs were seized and the suspects were charged with violating the Customs Act, officials said.

Four British tourists were arrested for allegedlFour British tourists were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle cannabis stuffed in seven giant suitcases from Thailand to the UK. The Brits along with one Malaysian national were pulled aside by suspicious security guards as they were about to board planes at the airport on the island of Koh Samui on March 12. Shocked officials opened the 32-inch long cases to find hundreds of vacuum-sealed bags packed with fresh cannabis buds that had been grown at a farm on the popular island, which was recently the setting for the hit series The White Lotus. The total haul - legal in the country but a crime to export - is said to have weight 144kg (320 lbs). Authorities identified the suspects as British passengers Mark Siemaszkiewicz, 46, Richard McMahon, 46, Oluwatosin Peace Adefila, 27, and Bose Esther Fakuade, 26, and Malaysian tourist Tick Chin Tan, 47. They are accused of trying to take the marijuana out of the country via a connecting flight to London Heathrow. PACKAGE: Video, pictures, text
Officials seen lining up the various massive suitcases (Picture: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)

This is not the first time people have tried to smuggle drugs out of a country.

A British tourist was recently arrested at Phuket airport after cocaine allegedly fell from his pocket during a meltdown.

The man, whose identity has not been confirmed, is believed to have flown from ShanghaiChina, when officers pulled him aside once he had landed in Thailand.

He then appeared to lose control – rampaging through the hall before rolling on the ground.

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