BrandyBlue
1-30-04, 11:29 AM
Bare chest costs Briton Thai drugs bust
Fri Jan 30, 8:27 AM ET
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A 35-year-old Briton smuggled 9,000 ecstasy tablets past eight customs officials in Thailand before being stopped on the street the next day and arrested for not wearing a shirt.
Reuters Photo
"Shit happens," said Alan John Kiernan, who arrived in Thailand from Switzerland on Friday and made it through customs with the ecstasy haul -- worth 5 million baht (88,000 pounds) -- hidden in special panels sewn into his sweat pants.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
Police said Kiernan, whose travel documents said he came from Southampton, had told them he wanted to sell the pills to foreigners in Bangkok.
"The pills were found wrapped neatly in a plastic bag and hidden in his sweat pants. They were specially made with several layers," one police officer said.
Paraded in handcuffs before television cameras at a police news conference, Kiernan confessed to smuggling the tablets but said he had only been caught because he was walking around a park topless while trying to phone his local contact.
"They didn't catch me at the airport," he told Reuters Television. "I got through eight customs without being stopped once.
"This morning that copper over there arrested me for not having a shirt on. The next thing you know, he's pulled out these ecstasy tablets," he said, pointing to his trousers.
He added he had taken a few pills himself and appeared to accept his fate relatively calmly. His only regret was not being able to see a bit more of the sprawling Thai capital, he said.
"I can't even get out to have a look around," he complained.
A British teenager, Michael Connell, was caught trying to bring 3,400 ecstasy tablets into Thailand in November. Connell, 19, who also faces the death penalty, pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.
Ironically, Thailand is considered to be one of the biggest sources of ecstasy tablets available in Western Europe.
Fri Jan 30, 8:27 AM ET
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A 35-year-old Briton smuggled 9,000 ecstasy tablets past eight customs officials in Thailand before being stopped on the street the next day and arrested for not wearing a shirt.
Reuters Photo
"Shit happens," said Alan John Kiernan, who arrived in Thailand from Switzerland on Friday and made it through customs with the ecstasy haul -- worth 5 million baht (88,000 pounds) -- hidden in special panels sewn into his sweat pants.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
Police said Kiernan, whose travel documents said he came from Southampton, had told them he wanted to sell the pills to foreigners in Bangkok.
"The pills were found wrapped neatly in a plastic bag and hidden in his sweat pants. They were specially made with several layers," one police officer said.
Paraded in handcuffs before television cameras at a police news conference, Kiernan confessed to smuggling the tablets but said he had only been caught because he was walking around a park topless while trying to phone his local contact.
"They didn't catch me at the airport," he told Reuters Television. "I got through eight customs without being stopped once.
"This morning that copper over there arrested me for not having a shirt on. The next thing you know, he's pulled out these ecstasy tablets," he said, pointing to his trousers.
He added he had taken a few pills himself and appeared to accept his fate relatively calmly. His only regret was not being able to see a bit more of the sprawling Thai capital, he said.
"I can't even get out to have a look around," he complained.
A British teenager, Michael Connell, was caught trying to bring 3,400 ecstasy tablets into Thailand in November. Connell, 19, who also faces the death penalty, pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.
Ironically, Thailand is considered to be one of the biggest sources of ecstasy tablets available in Western Europe.