12kg Heroin Found Inside Buddha Statues Abandoned in Thailand

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Picture courtesy: Naew Na

 

In a striking discovery today, Thai authorities uncovered a substantial narcotics haul tucked away in Buddha statues left by a roadside in Nakhon Phanom province.

 

Acting on a tip-off, the Border Patrol Police, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Rewat Champa, launched extensive patrols in this northeastern region. Their vigilant efforts paid off when they stumbled upon three statues abandoned near a cemetery in Uthen district.

 

Upon closer inspection, the statues revealed a staggering cache. Inside, authorities found 32 small bags, each containing approximately 400 grammes of heroin, amounting to 12kg.

 

Additionally, they uncovered 117kg of crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to as Ice. The heroin bore a distinctive stamp featuring a pair of lions and a red globe, while the Ice was cleverly concealed in Chinese tea bags, likely to evade scrutiny.

 

The illicit cargo is valued at over 100 million baht. Investigators deduced that the drugs were smuggled from Laos, evidenced by Mekong river sand clinging to the statues' bases.

 

A cunning smuggling tactic involved using carbon copy paper to shield the drugs from X-ray detection, a hallmark of sophisticated trafficking operations.

Picture courtesy: Naew Na

 

The decision to abandon the statues appears to be a hasty move prompted by tightening security measures.

 

Authorities suspect a broker, supervising from afar, tipped off the traffickers about the impending capture, leading them to ditch the contraband in a hurry.

 

This incident underscores the continuing battle against drug smuggling in Thailand, a key transit point in Southeast Asia.

 

The authorities remain on high alert, determined to stem the flow of illegal substances across their borders. This operation marks a significant victory in their ongoing campaign against drug trafficking, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2024-11-19