Australian man, Thai wife sentenced to death in Bangkok for drug smuggling

Perth man Luke Cook and his wife have been sentenced to death in Bangkok over a failed bid to smuggle half a tonne of crystal meth into Australia via Thailand.

Joshua Cook, 34, and  Kanyarat Wechapitak, 40, who were arrested last December have been sentenced to death.

Joshua Cook, 34, and Kanyarat Wechapitak, 40, who were arrested last December have been sentenced to death. Source: Narcotics Suppression Bureau

A Perth man and his Thai wife have been sentenced to death in Thailand on drug smuggling charges, according to a media report.

Luke Cook, 34, and wife Kanyarat Wechapitak, 40, were arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport last December and charged with attempting to smuggle half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine into Thailand and on to Australia in 2015.

A Thai court sentenced the Hells Angels bikie, who is said to be a father of two from WA, and his wife to death over the plot, The West Australian reports.

The sentences are expected to be commuted to life, the paper says.

It's believed the smuggled crystal meth, also known as ice and with an estimated street value of $300 million, was dumped into the sea from a boat off the southeastern province of Chonburi after being spotted by authorities.

About 50kg later washed ashore, police said.


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By AAP-SBS
Presented by Justin Sungil Park
Source: AAP, SBS

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