Surge in Brits Arrested Abroad on Drug Charges: Prisoners Abroad Sounds Alarm

A sharp increase in the number of British citizens arrested abroad on drug charges has been reported by the charity Prisoners Abroad. The organization has seen a dramatic rise in cases over the past few years, with 243 new cases in 2024-2025 alone, up from 61 in 2020-2021. This increase is particularly concerning given that 62% of these cases involve young people and 65% involve women. The UAE has the highest number of British citizens facing drug charges, with 51, followed by Spain (34) and Australia (31). Prisoners Abroad warns that the situation is particularly dire in the UAE, where young people are being recruited via social media to traffic drugs. The charity attributes part of the increase to Thailand's legalization of cannabis in 2022, making it easier for smugglers to move drugs. The penalties for drug smuggling vary significantly by country, with Thailand, Indonesia, and the UAE imposing the death penalty. Three British men in Indonesia are currently on trial, while one 69-year-old British woman has been on death row for a decade. The Foreign Office advises anyone arrested abroad to seek their assistance.