Bangkok: The chief of the airport immigration police has confirmed that no officers threatened or forced the woman involved in a drug smuggling case to transport drugs from Thailand to Georgia. This statement comes amid claims made by the suspect, Bella May Calley, a British national, who alleged in a Georgian court that she was compelled to smuggle drugs and that her attempts to alert Thai immigration officers were ignored.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Chengron Rimphidi, Commander of Immigration Bureau 2, referenced a report in The Telegraph, England, regarding the suspect’s allegations. The report suggested that Calley claimed officers at the Thai departure office neglected her pleas for assistance concerning her passport and that she was coerced into the drug smuggling operation. In response, a Thai social media page also posted allegations that the officers’ actions were detrimental to the country’s reputation.
Pol. Col. Chengron ordered a thorough investigation into these claims. The investigation revealed that Calley departed Thailand on May 10, 2025, aboard Air Arabia flight G9822 from Suvarnabhumi to Sharjah, UAE. CCTV footage indicated that she passed through the automated passport control channel without seeking help from the officers. There was no evidence of any immigration or police officers threatening or forcing her to carry drugs. Authorities suspect that Calley’s claims may be an attempt to lessen her legal penalties. Nonetheless, Immigration Bureau 2 will mark her in the immigration system as a prohibited person under Section 12(8) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, due to the circumstances suggesting possible drug trading activities.
The airport immigration office remains committed to intercepting travelers engaged in illegal activities, aligning with the policies of Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalak, Commissioner-General of the Immigration Bureau. The bureau has coordinated with Customs and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to address drug-related offenses. Since the start of the year, they have supported the arrest of 10 outbound drug cases in collaboration with Customs.