Three Britons and two Americans were nabbed for allegedly trying to smuggle 265lbs (120kg) of dried cannabis through an airport in Thailand.

The passengers were reportedly caught in five separate arrests at the international departure screening point at the Chiang Mai International Airport on March 17.

Police identified them as three British men aged 26, 32, and 53, and two American women aged 20 and 28 bound for London and Brussels, with connecting flights in Hong Kong and Singapore. The illegal haul was valued at around 1.19 million Baht (around 27,000 GBP).

Authorities believe the tourists were part of an international cannabis smuggling ring.

All five suspects claimed they were merely couriers hired to check in the luggage at the airport. They said the cannabis-filled bags had been handed to them by other people.

The scheme mirrored similar trafficking attempts at other airports in Thailand, including on the island of Koh Samui in the south.

Police Lieutenant General Krittapon Yeesakhon, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, said: 'The international cannabis smuggling network exploited a legal loophole to export more cannabis out of the Thailand because it was worth the investment. 

‘Even if only 10 per cent of the drugs were successfully smuggled, it would still be highly profitable upon arriving at the destination.'

Police have been tightening security at Thai airports amid a spate of cannabis smuggling attempts in recent weeks. With marijuana legal - and widely available - many addicts have attempted to stock up on the product before returning to their home countries.

Thai authorities said they were discussing tighter security measures to intercept cannabis smugglers, who can achieve large profits from the arbitrage with their homelands.

Cannabis with under 0.2 per cent of THC was decriminalised in Thailand in June 2022, as a potential cash crop for impoverished farmers and ministers connected to the pharmaceutical industry. Cannabis smoking is allowed for personal use in private areas but remains prohibited in public spaces.

However, bungling officials are now seeking to outlaw recreational cannabis, blaming poorly regulated use for allegedly fuelling drug abuse and a rise in the the number of cases of tourists over-indulging in the drug.

Tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya have seen the negative consequences of legalising the drug, with tourists regularly arrested for misbehaving while under the influence of cannabis.