A British tourist has died after suffering a serious reaction to magic mushrooms while on holiday in Thailand, local media report.
The 25-year-old was enjoying a Christmas holiday with his girlfriend when he allegedly bought the hallucinogenic drug at a shop in Chiang Mai.
He reportedly had a horrible instant reaction to the mushrooms and died shortly after.
Doctors arrived at the luxury resort where he was staying and questioned his partner, who admitted that they had purchased the items without a prescription at a nearby cannabis store called The Glory Days.
Officers raided the store today and arrested the owner on suspicion of selling schedule 5 narcotics.
Police allegedly found bags containing 7kg of magic mushrooms in the warehouse.
The British tourist is said to have purchased mushrooms without a prescription at a cannabis store.
Police raided the store today after a British tourist reportedly died on December 20.
Police Major General Worapong Khamluea, commander of the investigation division, said: “The tourist had been taking photographs at Tha Pae Gate, a famous landmark, with his girlfriend and then they went to a shop and bought magic mushrooms.
‘He took them back to his hotel room and consumed them. But 40 minutes later he… collapsed from the reaction to the substance.
‘Officers initially searched the store but did not find mushrooms on the premises, instead discovering them in a warehouse used by the owner.
“Four suspects were arrested, including the owner and three employees.”
Police said the death occurred on December 20.
Today they sent an undercover officer posing as a customer to the store and bought a small bag of mushrooms for 500 baht (£11.68).
The drug squad then stormed the building to arrest the owner, Khun Ploy, who admitted that she had sold the mushrooms to the victim.
‘He took them back to his hotel room and consumed them. But 40 minutes later he was foaming at the mouth and collapsed due to the reaction to the substance,” police said.
Police reportedly found sacks containing 7kg of magic mushrooms in a raid on the shop.
She was taken to the police station and taken into custody to be charged with “selling and possessing schedule 5 narcotics without a permit.”
The prison sentence is a minimum of two years and a maximum of 10 years behind bars, along with a fine of between 40,000 and 200,000 baht.
Police Major General Worapong Khamluea added: “The suspect will be questioned further to find the supplier of the drugs and they will also be arrested.”
‘Possession of magic mushrooms is illegal and tourists should not buy or use them in the country. The effects are similar to those of LSD and can be very dangerous.’
Thailand legalized cannabis in 2022, sparking an explosion in flashy, neon-lit dispensaries across the country.
But poor legislation has led to a rise in mental illness, crime and the sale of other drugs in stores.
MailOnline has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.