British tourist, 25, dies from severe reaction to magic mushrooms in Thailand
A British tourist has died after suffering a severe reaction to magic mushrooms while on holiday in Thailand, local media report.
The 25-year-old was enjoying a Christmas holiday with his girlfriend when he allegedly bought the hallucinogenic drug from a shop in Chiang Mai.
He reportedly immediately had a horrific reaction to the mushrooms and died shortly afterwards.
Medics arrived at the luxury resort where he was staying and questioned his partner, who admitted buying the items without a prescription from a nearby cannabis shop called The Glory Days.
Officers raided the store today and arrested the owner on suspicion of selling category 5 narcotics.
The police allegedly found bags containing 7 kg of magic mushrooms in the storage room.
The British tourist is said to have bought mushrooms without a prescription from a cannabis store
Police raided the store today after a British tourist reportedly died on December 20
Police Major General Worapong Khamluea, commander of the Investigation Department, said: “The tourist had taken photos with his girlfriend at Tha Pae Gate, a famous landmark, and then they went to a shop and bought magic mushrooms.
“He took them back to their hotel room and ate them. But 40 minutes later he collapsed due to the reaction to the substance.
‘Officers initially checked the store but found no mushrooms on the premises, but discovered them in a storage area used by the owner.
“Four suspects have been arrested, including the owner and three employees.”
According to police, the death happened on December 20.
Today they sent an undercover police officer posing as a customer into the store and bought a bag of mushrooms for 500 Baht (11.68 GBP).
The drug squad then stormed the building to arrest the owner, Khun Ploy, who admitted to selling the mushrooms to the victim.
“He took them back to their hotel room and ate them. But forty minutes later he started foaming at the mouth and collapsed from the reaction to the substance,” police said
Police reportedly found bags containing 7kg of magic mushrooms during a raid on the store
She was taken to the station and taken into custody on charges of ‘selling and possessing narcotics of category 5 without consent’.
The prison sentence is a minimum of two years and a maximum of ten years behind bars, plus a fine of between 40,000 and 200,000 Baht.
Police Major General Worapong Khamluea added: “The suspect will be further interrogated to find her supplier of the drugs and they will also be arrested.
‘Possession of magic mushrooms is illegal and tourists are not allowed to purchase or use them in the country. The effects are similar to those of LSD and can be very dangerous.’
Thailand legalized cannabis in 2022, sparking an explosion in flashy neon-lit pharmacies across the country.
But the ill-conceived legislation has led to an increase in mental illness, crime and the sale of other drugs through the stores.
MailOnline has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.