Britons face death after Thai drug smuggling 'confession'

Two British men arrested in Thailand on drug offences could be sentenced to death after Thai police claimed the pair had admitted their guilt.

The Foreign Office in London confirmed last night that two men – Stephen Wilcox, 39, and Anthony Flannaghan, 33, who are thought to be from the Leicester area – were arrested yesterday.

A Thai police spokesman said the men had admitted charges of drug production and drug trafficking, which carry a maximum penalty in Thailand of death. The spokesman said: "Both suspects confessed to the charges and said a Thai man was the mastermind."

Thai police said a tip-off from British agents led them to arrest Mr Flannaghan in Bangkok and Mr Wilcox on the island of Ko Samui in the south. Officers alleged Mr Flannaghan had arrived in the capital from Ko Samui by bus with 2.9 pounds of heroin hidden in his luggage.

They said he claimed Mr Wilcox had paid him about £350 to ship the heroin to Bangkok.

Mr Wilcox was arrested after police in Ko Samui raided his home and found 1.2 ounces of heroin, one ounce of marijuana, 14 ecstasy tablets and 11 tablets of methamphetamines.

Thai police said Mr Flannaghan, who failed to produce his passport, was also charged with entering Thailand illegally.

Both men will be offered consular assistance, although British officials have not yet had access to them as police questioning was continuing, the Foreign Office said.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said she did not know how long the men had been in Thailand. "They were arrested on 21 April. Consular assistance will be provided," she said.

Under Thai law, people found guilty of drug trafficking charges can be executed if found guilty. The practice in the past has been that most sentences are commuted to life imprisonment.