Guest MonkeySee Posted December 26, 2008 Posted December 26, 2008 An Australian man charged with drug smuggling in Thailand says he has made a "big mistake" and is going to "pay for it". Drug trafficking in Thailand carries the death penalty. Andrew Hoods, 36, was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport's departure hall on Wednesday afternoon with 3kg of heroin strapped to his body, Thai officials said. He was charged with drug smuggling after Thai Customs found the drugs concealed in 12 packages. Thai police said another Australian, believed to be a friend of Hoods, is on the run after managing to escape from the airport. During a break in questioning at Bangkok drug headquarters, Hoods said he had been caught red handed. "I was caught with heroin, trying to bring it to Australia," Hoods told the Nine Network today. "I made a big mistake and I'm going to pay for it man, do you know what I mean, I'm going to pay for it." The heroin was estimated to have a street value of about 12 million baht ($A494,000), Thai officials said. But Hoods' thoughts are now focused on his daughter, whose photograph he carries in his wallet. "I've got her right, I've got my daughter here with me, know what I mean," he said while clutching the photo to his chest. "And that's all I've got man, that's all I've got." The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said diplomats had met Hoods. "Consular staff at the Australian embassy in Bangkok have spoken to the man and are providing him consular assistance," a DFAT spokesman said. Consular staff were also in contact with the man's family, he said. Thailand toughened its drug laws in 2002, but remains a transit point for narcotics produced in neighbouring Burma, the world's second largest opium producer and a major methamphetamine hub. Source: AAP - 19 December 2008 Quote
Guest Steve1903 Posted December 27, 2008 Posted December 27, 2008 Given the dialogue attributed to the guy can I assume he consumed the rest of the stuff before he was caught. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted December 27, 2008 Posted December 27, 2008 "I was caught with heroin, trying to bring it to Australia," Strapped to his body?? He is downright suicidal. Australia has some of the toughest customs checks anywhere. He'd have been caught by the sniffer dogs long before he got near the luggage belts. His only luck is that he did not travel via Singapore where he'd certainly get the death penalty. Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted December 27, 2008 Posted December 27, 2008 Given the dialogue attributed to the guy can I assume he consumed the rest of the stuff before he was caught. I assume he was high on something. I find it hard to believe that anyone could think they could get away with a stupid scheme like this one. Quote
