Short answer
Thailand's Customs Department said on 24 October 2026 that it had arrested 40 departing passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport between 1 and 24 October for trying to take cannabis flowers out of the country, seizing more than 577 kg worth 5.8 million baht. Since January it has made 517 arrests and seized 10,628 kg. The department says cannabis flowers are permitted for medical purposes only and cannot be exported without authorisation. The prime minister has ordered stricter checks and random inspections of outbound baggage.
What Customs announced
Thailand's Customs Department reported on 24 October 2026 that 40 departing passengers had been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport since 1 October on suspicion of trying to smuggle cannabis flowers out of the country, The Nation reported. Officers seized more than 577 kilogrammes of flowers, valued at 5.8 million baht.
The department's cumulative figures for 2026 are 517 arrests and 10,628 kilogrammes seized since January. It said almost all of the 40 people arrested in October were foreign nationals. The largest groups were Indian (11), Chinese (seven) and British (five) passengers, and there were also Canadian, Spanish and Portuguese travellers.
Why checks are tighter
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul chaired the Narcotics Control Board on 22 October and asked Customs to verify what is being exported and to carry out random inspections, according to the Customs statement reported by The Nation. The Finance Minister told Customs to coordinate with law enforcement agencies and tighten import and export controls.
Customs says it is working with Airports of Thailand to step up random checks of outbound goods and passengers' luggage, with the aim of stopping Thailand becoming a transit point for international drug trafficking.
What the rule is
The Customs Department reiterated that cannabis flowers are permitted for medical purposes only and cannot be exported without authorisation. The Thaiger reports that anyone caught exporting cannabis flowers without permission faces a fine of 30,000 baht per kilogramme, according to the department. That figure is as The Thaiger reported it, so check the Customs Department's own notice.
The department urged Thai residents and foreign tourists to learn the relevant laws before they travel. The rules on buying cannabis inside Thailand are changing separately, as a draft law to limit it to medical use has gone to parliament.
What to do, and where our tours fit
The safe course is simple: do not pack cannabis, in any form, when you fly out of Thailand, and do not carry it for someone else. If you are unsure about a product, ask Customs before your flight.
On our Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok, from $25 per person, you spend about nine hours with an English-speaking guide among temples, and nothing on the route involves cannabis. For the rules on entry and cannabis, see our guides to Thailand's cannabis rules and the visa exemption.
Practical checklist
- Do not pack cannabis flowers or products in luggage when leaving Thailand.
- Do not carry any package for someone else through the airport.
- If you are unsure about a product, ask the Customs Department before your flight.
- Allow extra time at Suvarnabhumi: random bag checks are being stepped up.
Questions and answers
Can I take cannabis out of Thailand?
Not without authorisation. The Customs Department says cannabis flowers are permitted for medical purposes only and cannot be exported without permission, and it is arresting departing passengers who try.
What is the penalty for exporting cannabis flowers?
The Thaiger reports a fine of 30,000 baht per kilogramme, according to the Customs Department. Arrests are also made, so check the department's own notice for the full rule.
Are checks only at Suvarnabhumi?
The October figures are from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The prime minister asked Customs for stricter checks on illegal exports in general; the reports do not say which other airports are included.
Does this affect tourists who just bought cannabis in a shop?
It affects anyone who tries to take it out. Buying rules are separate and changing; the Cabinet has sent a draft law limiting cannabis to medical use to parliament.