Being an international drug mule is easily among the most high risk jobs on the planet.

While the prospect of being locked up in a foreign land’s prison sound bad enough, some countries the penalty for being caught is death or life in prison in that country…..which may be worse than death itself.

Thailand is one of those countries that doesn’t play when it comes to drugs and unfortunately for 23 year old Nolubabalo ”Babsie” Nobanda of South Africa, she’s about to find out first hand.

Nobanda was busted this past Monday when police noticed a white substance in her hair shortly after she stepped off a Qatar Airways flight that reportedly originated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and flew through Qatar on the Gulf to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok.

That white substance happened to be over a kilo of cocaine mixed into her dreadlocks that had a street value around $145K. She was set to be paid less than $2k for her successful delivery, not quite worth the trouble she’s in now I’m sure.

International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said: “Our ambassador visited her in jail yesterday [but] unfortunately we are not going to interfere with that country’s laws … that’s a sovereign country, we don’t interfere,”said Monyela.

In other words,, she’s on her own.

He warned South Africans intending to smuggle drugs abroad that they should “just abandon their plans”.

“People who are even thinking of venturing [into] trafficking should be warned that other countries show no mercy,”Monyela said. “In South Africa, the constitution doesn’t allow the death penalty. In other countries the death penalty is there.”

Though the death penalty is on the statute books in Thailand it is seldom used.

Twelve other South Africans are serving lengthy terms in Thai jails after being convicted of drugs smuggling.

Days before she was apprehended at airport customs in Bangkok, Nobanda posted on her Facebook page that she was ready to return home from Brazil. In a status update posted five days ago, she said: ”South America, it’s been awesome! But it’s true what they say ‘There is no place like home!” Can’t miss SA festive. So bangane [friends] i hope icooler box are good to go [sic].”

In a video released, the visibly shaken suspect is seen helping Thai officials untie her dreadlocks and pick out the cocaine as cameras flash.
Later, she is seen with her head in her hands as officials demonstrate how the cocaine had been concealed.
Anxious friends and relatives gathered at the family’s home in Joza township, Grahamstown, yesterday.
Reporters were met by relatives and were not allowed past the front gate.
A spokesman for the family, who did not want to be named, said the family was in no position to comment: “We are in contact with the [Thai] embassy and we are trying to consolidate all the information. We need to consult a lawyer. Please understand that it is not that the family don’t want to speak to the media, we just can’t do so now.”
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