Thailand Will Work with Australia in Drug Investigation

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) will work with Australia Federal Police (AFP) in investigating the syndicate behind the 316kg of methamphetamine found on a cargo ship from Thailand.

 

ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkol said the cargo had been loaded onto a Chinese vessel, which left Laem Chabang on March 25th. The cargo was then transferred to a Portuguese vessel in Singapore and arrived in Australia on April 30th. The ONCB have contacted related agencies at Thai embassies overseas, asking them to submit the financial records and statements of those who are involved with the cargo ship.

 

The Australian Border Force intercepted the vessel on May 4th, when it docked at Port Botany in Sydney. They found 316kgs of crystalized methamphetamine, or “ice”, hidden in 62 large cardboard boxes, which were labeled as food items and electric barbeque grills. The drug haul is estimated to have a street value of 94.5 million Australian dollars, or about THB2.29 billion.

 

Mr. Wichai added that the ONCB and AFP have been exchanging intelligence relating to international drug trafficking, money laundering and other crime syndicates, to ensure effective law enforcement in the Asia-Australia regions.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG210522134930742

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-05-23

 

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[mtls2005]

Did he use air-quotes when he said "work with"?

 

Thailand seems to be one of the top transhipment points for illegal drugs. Imagine some are making money (20%?) providing this service?

 

Who can forget the 11 tonnes of Ketamine which morphed into TSP last November?

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/11/23/official-says-no-drug-found-in-drug-bust-tipped-off-by-taiwan/

 

Drugs? What drugs?

[dyertribe]

Sure ... they have a minister who seems well versed on Australian drug laws with a great deal of personal experience.

[edwinchester]

May want to make that investigation retrospective and catch some even bigger fish.

[ezzra]

"investigate" all you want, theses shipment have been going on for a long time and will continue so for even longer time, there is no way to stop them, maybe make a little dent in the supply chain, but that about it...

[smedly]

people running these drugs are well connected and protected considering the huge money involved

 

I would be very surprised if this so called investigation progresses beyond a few news stories then silence 

[NCC1701A]

Narcos: Thailand. Coming to Nextflix next month.  Based on true events. Follow the exploits of drug dealers and Thai police as they work together.  Season 1 is only one episode because it tells the whole story and gets really boring. 

[Thechook]

Will it be headed up by the ministry of agriculture?

[starky]

Thailand will work with Australia to help Australia understand there is no way any Thai national could possibly be involved in any crime of any sort. 

 Khrup ????

[chuang]

They should seek Thammanat's help...so what's the problem..

[FitnessHealthTravel]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The cargo was then transferred to a Portuguese vessel

The containers or the cargo? Big difference. Often the content of a container, even secured with RFID and other technology, can be changed mid shipment.  Who's to say it wasn't loaded on board in Singapore. Just saying...

[Andycoops]

I thought any crime in Australia wasn't recognised due to the recent Thai court ruling and so therefore any investigation is nonsense.

[DirtyHarry55]

Lol get their monkey feeder MP on the job!
He'll claim it's just sugar or something.

[colinneil]

Must be some kind of joke, maybe they will get the dep AG Minister to assist with the investigation.????????????????????????

[CharlieH]

I wonder if this kind of thing is a sacrificial shipment. Done periodically as a diversion/trade off for the real shipment and to let those "connections" have a result and be seen to be doing etc.

Just a thought.

[ikke1959]

a job for the new minister Thamanat. he is experienced.

[harada]

Drug smuggling, it’s just a little thing.????

[DirtyHarry55]

The fact that they chose to keep a convicted drug smuggler in government make me rather suspicious and you'd need a very big lab indeed to make that much meth.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, edwinchester said:

May want to make that investigation retrospective and catch some even bigger fish.

Nah just the low hanging fruit.

[Gee Ku]

You all stop cruxifying Minister Thammarat. It was powder of a non-narcotic kind he smuggled into Australia, he said.

[soalbundy]

No drugs without willing customers, seems that Australia has a meth problem.

[rtco]

7 hours ago, dyertribe said:

Sure ... they have a minister who seems well versed on Australian drug laws with a great deal of personal experience.

Meatloaf??? ...

 

"you took the words right outta my mouth"

[Thechook]

Will it be headed up by the ministry of agriculture?

[Thechook]

With convicted drug dealers in high power position in the Thai government nothing is going to be forth comming from them.  

 

Australian Federal Police won't be sharing info with drug traffickers either