Death penalty and prison for tourists – unexpected laws of Thailand

The article lists non-obvious laws for tourists in Thailand: a complete ban on vapes and e-cigarettes, a strict law against insulting the monarchy, an absolute ban on drugs with the possibility of the death penalty, rules for posting content on social media, mandatory drone registration, and a limit on the number of playing cards.

An article on the Kursor website warns tourists about severe and non-obvious laws in Thailand that can lead to large fines, imprisonment, or even the death penalty. Key legal pitfalls include a complete ban on importing, selling, and using vapes and e-cigarettes (fine up to 30,000 baht), a strict lese-majeste law with long prison sentences for any criticism of the royal family, an absolute ban on Class A drugs with the possibility of the death penalty, and liability for posting photos on social media of people drinking alcohol or dressed inappropriately. Separate mention is made of mandatory drone registration with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of entry (fine up to 100,000 baht or up to five years in prison) and an unusual law prohibiting possession of more than 120 playing cards without a permit. The article references a publication by The Independent.