Ben Stephen Ransome, a 28-year-old British fugitive, was arrested in Thailand after evading capture for two years. Ransome, who had been hiding out in the popular tourist destination of Phuket, was taken into custody on September 2 while dining at a restaurant in Rawai. The arrest followed a request from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for his extradition.
Ransome, a suspected member of a drug trafficking syndicate, fled the UK in 2022 to escape a lengthy prison sentence. During his time in Thailand, he had adopted a new identity, reinventing himself as a professional boxer under the name “Billy Roberts.” Authorities found he had been living a life of luxury, owning a condominium and a pool villa in Phuket’s Rawai Beach area.
He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin), conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (ketamine), and conspiracy to acquire or possess criminal property. Despite being detained, Ransome has denied the charges and is currently awaiting deportation back to the UK for further legal proceedings.
The arrest of Ransome comes after another British national was apprehended in Chiang Mai in March for selling drugs to foreign visitors in the area.