11 French nationals detained in Thailand for drug trafficking

Eleven French citizens are currently held in Thailand after being arrested with large quantities of cannabis in their luggage, according to French news outlet AFP. The arrests occurred since the beginning of the summer, with some detainees apprehended at airports in Thailand and Hong Kong. A police source told AFP that at least five of the detainees, aged between 18 and 26, were arrested at these international hubs.

The situation of the detained French nationals is being closely monitored by France's foreign ministry, which is in contact with their families, reported AFP. According to reports from relatives of some of the young people, they may have been tricked by drug traffickers into becoming drug mules in exchange for free vacations. The holiday offers allegedly came from the manager of a smartphone trading company.

The relatives stated that the French nationals were unaware of the actual contents of their suitcases, which contained 16.8kg of cannabis.

AFP spoke to a woman whose 20-year-old brother-in-law was arrested in mid-July while preparing to travel from Thailand to Paris with another French citizen. In his locked suitcase, customs officers found 16.8kg of cannabis. The woman described how her brother-in-law was contacted through Snapchat by someone who claimed the courier run was "100% legal" and that it involved transporting phones. She said he was the victim of a "Thailand plan" and was snared as he believed the offer was legitimate.

The French prosecutor's office, responsible for combating drug crime, stated that investigations are underway to identify the organizers and potential networks involved in this operation. They also aim to understand how these young people are recruited and looked after, as well as whether other individuals are involved, according to the Paris National Anti-Crime Office (PNACO).