News & Current Events
British Mum Claims Son Was Framed After Cocaine Found In Passport At Thai Airport
The mother of a man who was detained at an airport in Thailand after a cocaine packet was discovered in his passport has said that he was “set up” and warned that it may “happen to anyone.”
Michelle Swain, 57, said that when her son called to tell her that he had landed at Phuket Island for his much awaited vacation and had been arrested at immigration, her family went through hell.
In May of last year, Stevenage resident Jamie Louis Swain, then 29 years old, arrived at Phuket International Airport with his brother. However, as an immigration official was looking through his passport for an empty page to stamp his visa on, he spotted a small plastic bag filled with white powder and drew him away.
According to officers, Swain responded startlingly before he began to scream and shake, which prompted them to search his luggage and perform additional inspections.
Following his arrest at the airport, authorities analysed the material in his passport and determined it contained 0.42 grammes of cocaine.
Under Thailand’s Narcotics Act, he was reportedly facing up to 20 years in prison; however, following a July court hearing, he was sentenced to pay a fine of 50,000 baht (£1,137) and was subsequently deported back to the UK.
His mother described the harrowing event in detail and said that it was a “set up” in an interview with MailOnline.
Ms Swain said, “He went there with his brother, got through Heathrow, Dubai, and got to Thailand.”
“His brother got through with his passport and then Jamie gave his passport and they said a bag fell out his passport.”
“People say it’s because I’m his mum I don’t believe it, but to get through two airports and the fact it’s happened to other people, I just feel that it was a set up.”
“I can’t help that, I know I’m his mum, and I’m not silly I know they’re all doing this and it all goes on, I’m not naive I’ve got three boys.”
“But I just feel like to get through two airports and then suddenly this bag appears, and he’d had his passport out all that time, I just find it very strange.”
“It was less than a gram, it was ridiculous, but it was enough, as our solicitor said, to get money out of you.”
“As I say, I still think [it was set up], I can’t help it, because if that’s the case then obviously Heathrow and Dubai airports are not doing their job.”
You get comments saying “oh how stupid,” but no, because it wasn’t in there. It must have been put in there.
“I think this happens more than we know.”
“He’s not the only person it’s happened to, I know three people at least where it’s been exactly what happened to Jamie. It’s just too much of a coincidence.”
Ms. Swain described how she was contacted by individuals who had reported ‘exactly’ the same occurrence of nearly empty cocaine packets being ‘discovered’ in their passports.
She claimed that after being detained in a “holding cell” for almost two days, her son was released on bond.
She says the ‘terrible’ experience made her fear he might be imprisoned in a foreign jail. She had flown out to Phuket the same night he had been held.
The mother-of-three said, “I flew out that night, straight away.”
“He was taken to the police station and then he was put in a prison cell. He said it was not in a big prison, because he said he could see the sea from it.”
“He was handcuffed in there with a Russian bloke, just them two.”
“He said there was no water, no food, nothing. He was in there about two days then he got bail.”
“It wasn’t a high bail amount. He then had to stay there [in Phuket] for three months at least, they wouldn’t let him go.”
“He had a court date at the end of July and he got fined. He got fined and deported, but they couldn’t deport him from there, so he had to go to Bangkok.”
“So he had to get a flight from Phuket to Bangkok, and he was put in Bangkok prison for a couple of days.”
It wasn’t very nice in there from what he said. It wasn’t good. He said everyone in the prison were more interested in his story as a westerner, and they said to him “you’re not going to get out of here.” They said they had been there for years.
He had a square mat and that’s where he sort of stayed. I don’t know how many were in [the cell], but he said there were separate cells like Somalians and different religions, and they said “if you misbehave you go in there, and you don’t want to go in there”.
“There were fights in there.”
“But he managed to get through it. He flew back at the beginning of August.”
Despite early rumours that the 29-year-old may spend up to 20 years in prison, he was released on bail for £250 and paid a fine of slightly more than £1,000.
Ms. Swain expressed relief at the verdict, stating that the court had been advised by attorneys that a term of six months to a year in jail may be imposed.
Importing cocaine into Thailand is punishable by up to 20 years to life in prison and a fine of £43,000 to 108,000 (2,000,000 to 5,000,000 Baht) under the Narcotics Act.
Possession of cocaine carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to £2,000 (100,000 Baht), or both.
She cautioned that although the nation and its citizens are “beautiful” and “friendly,” tourists should exercise caution.
She said, “It was just meant to be a nice holiday. It could happen to any young boys going out there. There’s nothing you can do, you can be careful, but if that happens there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“When I see similar stories now, I do feel for the family.”
Until you’re in that situation, everyone comments “oh you do the crime you do the time” but when you’re in that situation it’s awful.
“It’s worrying, especially in another country, you don’t speak Thai.”
“Luckily our solicitor spoke English. Otherwise I don’t know what we would have done.”
“I don’t know what you do if you have no money or have no one out there.”
“It is frightening for the youngsters, it’s happening all the time out there.”
“It was just an awful experience, I wouldn’t want to put anyone ever through that. I would never wish it on anyone.”
“The worry alone was terrible.”
“It’s a shame he had to go through that really, it can ruin people’s lives. I don’t think they see the damage it can do to young boys lives.”
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