Robert Brown Found Arrested in Cambodia for £200,000 Cannabis Smuggling

A British man who was reported missing in Cambodia has been found — but not in the way his loved ones expected. Robert Brown, a 41-year-old from Newcastle, was arrested on June 17, 2025, at Phnom Penh International Airport after nearly 20kg of cannabis was discovered in his luggage.

Brown was detained by Cambodia’s Anti-Drug Department, which confirmed the arrest through an official post. Authorities seized 22 packages of dry marijuana weighing a total of 19.9 kilograms — an amount estimated to be worth £200,000 on the UK street market. He now faces serious charges, including use, possession, trafficking, and transportation of illegal drugs. If convicted, Brown could face up to 30 years in prison.

Missing Hours Before Arrest

Ironically, Brown had been the subject of an online missing person alert just hours before his arrest. A post shared in a Facebook group for expats in Cambodia claimed he hadn’t boarded his return flight to the UK and had left his luggage behind at the Old Durbar Hotel Restaurant. The concerned poster, using the name Kasey Kasey, described him as a “Geordie lad with a broad accent” and pleaded for help locating him.

However, shortly after that post began circulating, Cambodian authorities revealed that Brown had already been arrested at the airport. His face was blurred in the photo shared by officials, but the arrest confirmed his whereabouts.

UK Authorities Respond

The UK Foreign Office issued a brief statement, confirming: “We are supporting the family of a British man who was detained in Cambodia and are in contact with the local authorities.”

A Growing Pattern of British Nationals Arrested Abroad

Robert Brown’s case follows a growing number of Britons detained overseas on drug trafficking charges. In recent weeks:

• Bella May Culley, 18, from Billingham, County Durham, was reported missing in Thailand but later arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia with a similar cannabis haul. She now faces up to life in prison.

• Charlotte May Lee, 21, remains jailed in Sri Lanka, also on drug charges.

• A British couple was arrested in Spain after being caught with 32kg of cannabis in their suitcases.

• An electrician from Cumbria narrowly avoided the death penalty in Bali, with trafficking charges dropped but still facing prosecution for concealing information from authorities.

These incidents highlight the increasing scrutiny and risk faced by travellers carrying illegal substances internationally, especially in Southeast Asia where drug laws are extremely strict.

As of now, Robert Brown remains in custody in Cambodia as investigations continue. His family has not yet released a public statement.