The mother of a British national who faced up to two decades in a Thai prison has issued a stark warning to travellers after claiming her son was 'set up'.
Last May, Jamie Louis Swain had jetted off to the Southeast Asian country on what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime with his brother. However, the brothers' holiday would soon turn into a nightmare when Jamie was pulled aside by immigration officials at Phuket airport and accused of having a small bag of white powder hidden in his passport.
According to airport officers, the then 29-year-old reacted in surprise when informed about the discovery of the bag, before he began 'swearing and shaking'.
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Authorities then conducted further checks on his baggage and tested the white substance, which turned out to be 0.42 grams of cocaine.
He was then arrested at the airport.
His distraught mother, Michelle Swain revealed to the MailOnline that she and her family went through hell after learning about the situation, with the 57-year-old flying out to Thailand that night.
Under Thailand's strict Narcotics Act, the penalty for importing cocaine is a maximum jail term of 20 years to life in prison and a fine of 2,000,000 – 5,000,000 Baht (£43,000 to £108,000).
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Meanwhile, cocaine possession can land you with up to five years in prison as well as a fine of 100,000 Baht (£2,000).
Fortunately for the Stevenage native, he was ultimately fined 50,000 baht (£1,137) and deported from the country in August.
His mother has now claimed the whole incident was a 'set up' and urged other travellers to be aware when travelling.
"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," she said, adding that her sons had gotten through both London Heathrow and Dubai airport without issue.
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"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."
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She continued: "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."
Warning other travellers to be cautious of ending up in a similar situation to her son, Michelle added: "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.
"Everyone comments "oh you do the crime you do the time" but when you're in that situation it's awful."
Topics: Travel, World News, US News, Drugs
Brenna Cooper