A British man is facing life in prison for allegedly running a drugs supermarket - selling cocaine and ketamine to tourists from his cannabis shop in Thailand.

The suspect, identified by police only as Daniel, 43, had reportedly been supplying the party drugs alongside ecstasy, meth, and other contraband to customers at his dispensary in Chiang Mai province.

Chiang Mai immigration officers raided his store on November 12 after receiving a tip-off that the Brit had allegedly been selling the narcotics under the table to tourists alongside the now legal marijuana.

Officers claim to have found seven bags of crystal meth weighing 0.76 ounces (21.61 grams), 10 ecstasy pills, 10 bags of cocaine weighing 0.36 ounces (10.32 grams), and four bags of ketamine weighing 0.23 ounces (6.56 grams).

Police Lieutenant Colonel Patsalaporn Sukrasorn, deputy superintendent of investigation of Chiang Mai Immigration, said: ‘The suspect opened the cannabis shop legally, but he was found to have been selling illegal drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine, crystal meth, and cocaine, to other foreigners for six months.

‘We are investigating where he sources the drugs. He has been handed over to the inquiry officer at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station for possessing and selling drugs.'

Police Colonel Surachai Iampueng, superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration, said Daniel had been using a tourist visa to travel to and from Thailand.

He said: ‘We are investigating the possibility that he might have illegally smuggled cannabis out of Thailand to sell in other countries.'

Daniel was remanded in custody while the investigation continues.

According to Thai law, carrying Category I drugs, including LSD and ecstasy, for 'disposal or possession for the purpose of disposal', has a maximum punishment of the death sentence or life in prison. The most severe punishments are reserved for those who 'produce of import' the substances, while simply possessing the drugs can land offenders in jail for up to 10 years.

Dealing the lesser Category 2 drugs, which include cocaine and ketamine, can carry a life sentence while possession alone has a punishment of five years.

Daniel's arrest comes amid concerns over British tourists smuggling cannabis and drugs from Thailand back to the United Kingdom. Thailand legalised marijuana last year sparking a free-for-all on the High Streets but holidaymakers have begun taking the substance home with them.

Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said officials from the UK's National Crime Agency visited Thailand in October to discuss drug networks reportedly convincing Brits to smuggle cannabis from Thailand.

The suspected traffickers were said to have been using the Telegram messaging app to recruit people into visiting Thailand. They allegedly offered free tours and pocket money in exchange for carrying cannabis back to Britain.