British tourist from Belfast arrested for robbing Pattaya cannabis shop

On February 2, 2025, Andrew John Mathews, 23, from Belfast, broke a window of BudBox Cannabis Shop on Soi Chalermprakiat 3 in Pattaya and stole products worth over 10,000 baht. He was a regular customer who knew the layout. CCTV footage led to his arrest on February 6. He admitted to stealing cannabis but denied taking cash, claiming he smoked until he passed out and the cannabis clouded his judgment. Cannabis has been legal in Thailand since 2022—he could have simply bought it. Charged with theft by damaging property.