The amount of cannabis being shipped in shipments from Thailand to the United Kingdom has plummeted by 90% within just three months, following a collaborative crackdown between UK authorities and Thai Customs, the Home Office has revealed.
Following Thailand’s decision to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, UK Border Force faced an unprecedented surge in illegal postal shipments. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, officers intercepted approximately 15 tonnes of cannabis arriving through the mail. However, under a new agreement requiring all parcels from Thailand to undergo stringent checks before export, the volume seized dropped significantly to just 1.5 tonnes by early 2025.
Border Minister Seema Malhotra praised the initiative, describing it as a “prime example” of how international cooperation is critical to Labour’s broader mission of ensuring “safer streets.”
“By stopping these drugs at the source, we’re not only disrupting organised crime networks but also safeguarding our communities and allowing Border Force to concentrate on other crucial priorities,” Malhotra said. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with international partners to tackle drug smuggling at its roots.
Thai Customs’ enhanced screening measures have also proven effective on their end. According to the Home Office, between October 2024 and March 2025, Thai authorities intercepted over 800 individuals attempting to smuggle cannabis, seizing more than nine tonnes of the drug during this period.
The UK also recorded historic levels of drug confiscations last year. In the 12 months leading up to March 2024, Border Force and UK police seized 119 tonnes of illegal drugs, valued at £3 billion — a 52% increase from the previous year, according to the Metropolitan Police.
In a separate operation, Border Force, working alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA), seized £6 million worth of cannabis from passengers at Bangkok Airport. This joint effort, part of Operation Chaophraya launched in July 2024, has led to the arrests of over 50 British nationals for attempting to smuggle cannabis out of Thailand.
Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, emphasized the agency’s expanding international reach: “Our operations extend beyond the UK’s borders. Through partnerships and intelligence-sharing, we are preventing illicit goods from ever reaching our shores. Border Force remains deeply committed to protecting the UK and keeping our streets safe.”
