Thai and Indian Nationals Face Trial Over Marijuana Smuggling

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The court is hearing a case involving the sale, export, and use of narcotic drugs, dating back to 2025. The first defendant, a 31-year-old Thai national, was charged with possessing marijuana for trafficking. The second defendant, a 29-year-old Indian national, was charged with possessing, selling, and trafficking marijuana, hashish, processed hashish, and cocaine, as well as possessing and using the psychotropic substance methamphetamine.

The case began when a customs officer at Bahrain International Airport became suspicious of a suitcase arriving from Bangkok. X-ray scans showed fragmented, high-density objects inside, prompting the officer to mark and inspect it.

During inspection at the red channel, approximately 3.35 kg of a substance suspected to be marijuana was found hidden inside food packages.

Another customs witness confirmed that the suspected narcotic substance was discovered inside the first defendant's luggage. During questioning, the defendant admitted that he arrived in Bahrain to smuggle the quantity and deliver it to others based on a prior agreement with a Thai woman via a messaging application.

Investigations further revealed that after leaving the airport, the defendant contacted the Thai woman involved, who directed him to a rented apartment. Subsequent coordination for drug delivery took place through an organized network using a “dead drop” method, involving individuals inside and outside Bahrain.

The second defendant was later identified and arrested after his location was determined. A search of his person, vehicle, and residence uncovered various narcotics, including processed hashish, meth, cocaine, and a sensitive weighing scale, along with cash believed to be drug trafficking proceeds.

Investigations indicated that the network operated by dividing roles—smuggling, receiving, repackaging, and distribution—coordinated by individuals both inside and outside the country.