A fourfold increase in overseas arrests of Britons for drug offences in the last three years should alarm us all
Seized drugs in Thailand in 2026 (SOPA Images Limited/Alamy)
4 min read
Ten years ago, the most common issues facing my constituents abroad were lost passports and travel disruption.
Today, more British nationals are travelling, living and working overseas, and the risks they face are changing.
Consular teams at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) are increasingly dealing with safeguarding concerns, criminal exploitation, arrests, serious injuries, vulnerable British nationals, unexplained deaths, and international crises. These cases often involve individuals and families facing some of the most difficult moments imaginable.
As the new minister for consular and crisis, I have seen first-hand the difference this consular support can make, including during the recent floods on the Nepal-China border. FCDO teams are continuing to work around the clock to support those affected.
But crises are only one part of the picture. Every MP knows the difficult cases that land unexpectedly in their inbox. Behind every case is someone looking for answers. In 2025-26, the FCDO provided tailored consular assistance to more than 27,200 British nationals, including more than 5,600 British nationals arrested abroad.
One of the most troubling trends facing young British travellers today is exploitation by organised criminal gangs. New figures show consular cases involving British nationals arrested overseas for drug smuggling offences more than quadrupled between 2023 and 2025. Behind these statistics are young people often targeted on social media by criminals promising free holidays, quick cash and ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities, whether that is business class flights or five-star hotels.
The reality is very different. Recruits are often told they are carrying clothes, cash or gold, only to discover after arrest they have been transporting drugs. In one recent case, suitcases were found to contain 71 kilograms of cannabis.
With foreign governments cracking down, more than 200 British nationals are currently detained overseas for offences connected to cannabis originating from Thailand alone, with around 60 per cent of those affected since 2024 aged between 16 and 30. Many face years in prison. In some countries, penalties include life sentences, corporal punishment, or the death sentence.
Young Brits need to know never to carry drugs, luggage or packages for someone else
Unfortunately, once someone has entered another country’s criminal justice system, there are limits to what any external government can do. Our consular teams cannot interfere with legal proceedings, pay for a lawyer, provide legal advice or get Brits out of jail.
That is why prevention matters. We must continue working across government, devolved administrations, schools, families, and communities to help stop young and vulnerable people being exploited before their lives are changed forever.
Young Brits need to know never to carry drugs, luggage or packages for someone else.
Through our Travel Aware campaign, we are exposing the tactics criminal gangs use to target travellers on social media and highlighting the devastating consequences that can follow. We are also urging people to check FCDO Travel Advice, sign up for alerts, and take out appropriate insurance before they travel.
However, the challenge is not simply producing good advice but ensuring it reaches those most at risk. I have seen that through our medical tourism campaign, which urges people to research the risks and how to avoid botched or even fatal procedures. Other issues we are tackling include spiking and methanol poisoning, and we are working with airports, ports and the travel industry to reach people before they travel.
But government cannot do this alone. MPs can help by understanding what the FCDO can and cannot do for British nationals overseas, and by amplifying Travel Advice and Travel Aware messages when engaging with their networks.
Our ambition is simple: by working together, we will reach people earlier with clearer advice and help travellers avoid problems before they happen.
FCDO consular teams are available 24/7 to support British nationals in serious difficulty overseas. MPs and staff can contact the private dedicated MP helpline for urgent consular escalations, which has been provided to your offices. Constituents and their families can contact the public line on 020 7008 5000
Stephen Doughty is Labour (Co-op) MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, and FCDO minister
