A woman from Chiang Rai has been arrested after officers discovered 2.1kg of heroin concealed inside packets of Thai tea and instant coffee that were due to be shipped to Taiwan, in what authorities believe may be linked to an existing cross-border drug trafficking network. Get today's headlines by email The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) said the arrest took place at about 12pm on 3 July 2026 after officers inspected a private parcel delivery company in Bangkok that had been under surveillance following intelligence about suspected drug shipments destined for Taiwan. During the operation, officers identified a woman behaving suspiciously while attempting to send an overseas parcel. After identifying themselves, officials searched the package and found the concealment method matched one used in an earlier heroin seizure in Bangkok’s Rang Nam area. The search uncovered Class 1 narcotics, identified as heroin, hidden inside three large packets of instant coffee and one packet of Thai tea. The total weight of the drugs was approximately 2,100g. The woman was arrested and the drugs seized for legal proceedings. Pictures courtesy of Amarin According to investigators, the suspect told officers she is from Chiang Rai and had travelled to Bangkok after collecting the tea and coffee packets containing the concealed heroin in Chiang Rai. She allegedly said she had been paid 10,000 baht in cash to deliver the parcel for shipment to Taiwan. ONCB Secretary-General Pol Lt Col Suriya Singhakamol said the concealment method closely resembled a previous heroin case involving coffee packets, leading investigators to believe the latest seizure could involve the same network or a connected organisation. Authorities are continuing to investigate potential links. He said the case demonstrated that drug trafficking networks continue attempting to use Thailand as a transit route by concealing narcotics inside consumer goods and exploiting international parcel delivery services. He added that intelligence gathering, investigations and surveillance had enabled authorities to intercept such shipments on an ongoing basis. The ONCB said investigators are now working with relevant agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for organising, financing and directing the operation, along with any other members of the network. Pol Lt Col Suriya said the arrest was carried out under government policy led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which identifies drug suppression as a national priority, alongside policies introduced by Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapol Naowarat to strengthen cooperation between agencies and target traffickers at every stage of the supply chain. Amarin reported that he also warned the public not to accept parcels for international shipment without knowing their origin or checking their contents carefully, saying people could become unwitting tools of drug trafficking networks and still face prosecution even if they claimed they were unaware of the contents. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 5 July 2026
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