A mother from the UK insists her son was falsely accused when cocaine purportedly dropped out of his passport during an idyllic trip to Thailand, and she cautions that it “can happen to anyone.”
Michelle Swain, 57, recounted that her family’s world was thrown into chaos when her son, Jamie Louis Swain, 29, was detained at Phuket International Airport just after he and his brother arrived in May of the previous year.
Screening officers reportedly found a packet weighing 0.42g of cocaine tucked inside Jamie’s passport while they were searching for a blank page for his visa stamp.
He was detained immediately and faced up to 20 years in jail under Thailand’s strict drug laws.
Police said he reacted with visible shock, began swearing and shaking, and was swiftly arrested.
His bags were scanned and the white powder tested positive for cocaine, according to Thai authorities.
Michelle alleged the whole incident was a set-up, insisting her son had already passed through two other international airports – Heathrow and Dubai – without issue.
She told the Daily Mail: “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.”
Michelle added: “It must have been put in there. I think this happens more than we know.”
Jamie, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was reportedly held in a holding cell for two days before being bailed for the equivalent of £250.
His mum flew to Phuket the same night he was detained.
“He was handcuffed in there with a Russian bloke, just them two. He said there was no water, no food, nothing,” she said.
He remained in Thailand for nearly three months awaiting a court date.
In July, he was fined 50,000 baht (around £1,137) and deported – but not before spending two more nights in a Bangkok prison.
Michelle recounted: “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.”
She warned other young Brits travelling abroad to stay alert – claiming at least three other people had contacted her with near-identical stories.
“It could happen to any young boys going out there,” she said.
There’s nothing you can do, you can be careful, but if that happens there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Thai police said at the time that Jamie had been charged with importing and possessing Category II narcotics.
He arrived on Etihad Airways flight EY432 and was caught during a routine immigration check.
Police Colonel Padthongtew Damapong, superintendent of Phuket Airport Immigration, said: “An immigration officer found the cocaine when she was checking the tourist’s passport.
“The suspect was charged with importing category II narcotics, namely cocaine, into the country and possessing them.
“The suspect was handed over to Sakhu Police Station for further legal action.”
Importing cocaine into Thailand carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to 5,000,000 baht.
Possession alone can mean up to five years behind bars.
While Michelle admits she’s not naive about drugs and has three sons, she maintains Jamie was targeted: “It was less than a gram, it was ridiculous, but it was enough, as our solicitor said, to get money out of you.”
“It can ruin people’s lives. I don’t think they see the damage it can do to young boys’ lives.”
