Is it recommended to take a pack safe when travelling to/from Thailand?

Question

I'm travelling to Thailand in December and recently read an article about a young woman who was travelling from Thailand to Australia and on arrival found someone had put drugs into her backpack. She got sentenced to 20 years in a Thai prison. The article said it is so dangerous to travel from Thai airports and recommended cling wrapping your pack, masking tapping it and using a gauze pack safe with a proper padlock etc. It all seemed slightly extreme to me but since discussing it with others they all recommend the same. I am a bit worried now. Do you think it is advisable to just use a packsafe or to cling wrap etc the pack underneath as well?

Answer 1

If she had drugs in her bag it was probably placed there by the "friends" she was traveling with or she is lying through her teeth!

You have to keep an eye on your own bags!  I do use a lock on my carry on bag and I have always done this for many,many years.  On the check in bag I use plastic electric ties to keep it secured.  A lock won't stop anyone from getting in your bag, all they have to do is use a razor knife, but the slice will let you know that your bags have been tampered with.

Check your bags thoroughly before you go to the airport, don't let the bag out of your sight.   If you travel with dopers or you associate with dopers don't be surprised if their dope ends up in your bag!

Use better hostels or hotels that have security boxes and put your spare cash and valuables in that hotel safe.   First off, before you leave on your trip DON'T bring anything you would cry over if it came up missing.  No really expensive watches, no "one of a kind" family heirloom, no expensive jewelry and no unnecessary electronics!  

There are lots of cheap internet shops all over Thailand  - you don't have to carry your own laptop with you!  I haven't come across any security boxes that have been large enough to store a normal sized laptop.  So this means you take a chance leaving your computer in your hotel room and hope a fellow doper/backpacker/tourist doesn't rip you off - or you carry it with you all the time!  

Keep your valuables near you or on your person when using planes, buses, trains and taxis.  Don't put any valuable electronics, money, passport or medicines in your check in bag.   Don't fully trust anyone you just meet on your trip!

Good luck.  

Answer 2

Hi have a look at this link you could buy 1 to have peice of mind

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PACSAFE-85LTR-RUCK...

Answer 3

Drug trafficking is a serious offence here in Thailand. The government is contemplating on bringing back the campaign against it and better safe than sorry. Coming in or going out is a serious business especially if you are travelling to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia afterward, as those countries use Muslim Laws and only penalty for drug trafficking is death.

I was a Thai consult in Indonesia some ten years ago, and a Thai fisherman was found in his chamber in the fishing boat with kilos of heroin staged in a wooden closet on top of his bed. He denied knowing about it, but he was arrested and sentenced to death. My predecessor consuls had helped him even by getting letters from Prime Minister asking for pardon several times, but it was only good for postponing the executions, which happened three times; with one time the letter came only a day before the actual execution. The guy couldn’t take it anymore and requested for the Consul to stop intervene.

I was just taking the office when the final sentence came and although I read the file, was instructed not to even visit him. I couldn’t travel (because he was held in Kalimantan island further away from Jakarta) there as permission wasn’t granted, and denied any information pertaining to his condition. I guess that was the end of him.

Better safe than sorry.  

Answer 4

I've been to Thailand many many times and I have never wrapped my bag and I never had a problem. Just follow the loudspeaker's instructions at the airports and never leave your bags unattended.

Answer 5

There is nobody in Thailand just randomly putting drugs in other people's backpacks.  (Well maybe if your a drug user or hang around with drug users your BBF might.)

When you try to take drugs home and the police intercept you you have to have a somewhat plausible story.  If you stay away from the drug trade and you pack your own bag, you should have no problem.

Answer 6

My Son just visited Thailand last month and had a wonderful time. He had padlocks for both his suitcase and his rucksack (hand luggage) and he had no problems at the airport. My Son stated that he thought security seemed lax. My Son was ill whilst in Thailand and had to visit a Thai hospital in which he was put on antibiotics.

My Son kept the medication in his hand luggage and tried to show the security/immigration people who did not look and waved him through.

My Son also made use of the safes at the hotels he stayed in and kept his case locked at all times he was not in his hotel room.

Mt Son loved Thailand and states he felt far safer over there than he does in the UK. He also said how very friendly, warm and welcoming the Thai people are.

Answer 7

I've been to Thailand three times in the last three years. Iv never used a padlock on my back pack or wrapped it in clingfilm.

I think the case you read about it a total extreme.

Obviously be carefual and take the normal precatuions that you would take when travelling abroad anywhere and perhaps slighly more vigilant but i think it all sounds quite extreme really.

Be careful of course but dont let worrying about totally extreme media stories reuin your holiday!