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Russian Traveller Arrested at Phuket Airport with 17kg of Cannabis
A 30-year-old Russian national was arrested at Phuket International Airport on July 8, 2026, after customs officers found more than 17 kilograms of cannabis packed into his luggage. Sergey Sharabari was stopped in the international departures terminal as he prepared to board a flight to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The seizure, valued at around 9.5 million baht, is a sharp reminder that cannabis cannot legally leave Thailand, regardless of what the domestic rules say.
What Was Found
Officers searched two blue wheeled suitcases belonging to Sharabari and found 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flowers (11.4 kg including packaging) and 12 packages of cannabis resin (6.2 kg including packaging), for a total of 17.6 kg. He reportedly admitted the bags and their contents were his. The case was transferred to Sakhu Police Station.
The Charges
Sharabari faces multiple serious charges, including attempting to export goods without completing customs procedures and attempting to export a Category 5 narcotic (cannabis extract) without permission. The relevant statutes span the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Act B.E. 2542 (1999), along with a 2025 Ministry of Public Health announcement covering controlled herbs including cannabis.
What Tourists Need to Know
Cannabis is still a controlled export item in Thailand. Domestic rules around possession and sale have shifted in recent years, but those changes do not extend to taking cannabis out of the country. Departing passengers at Phuket airport are subject to customs inspection, and outbound luggage is actively being scanned. Attempting to export cannabis without the required permits is a criminal offence carrying charges under both customs law and narcotics legislation.
It is also worth noting that the day before this arrest, a Belgian woman was stopped at the same airport carrying over 31 kg of cannabis in her luggage, suggesting authorities are running a focused operation on outbound flights.
If you are travelling through Phuket airport, the rule is simple: cannabis stays in Thailand.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.