Thailand Makes Record Crystal Meth Seizure in Bangkok Warehouse

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Picture courtesy: Thai TV 5

 

Thai authorities have made a record-breaking seizure of 1.65 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, known as "Ice," hidden within cotton bales in a Bangkok warehouse. The major bust took place in the Rat Burana district and led to the arrest of five individuals, including a woman responsible for renting the storage space.

 

Parin Mekhanan, the director of suppression at the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), detailed the operation. The consignment, comprising 33 cotton bales and weighing approximately 1.65 tonnes, originated from an African country. It was initially destined for India but was barred entry, prompting the sender to enlist a Thai contact in Bangkok to secure temporary storage and plan its shipment to another destination.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai TV 5

 

This Thai woman, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed by police, arranged for the cotton bales to be housed in an empty warehouse. Her involvement led to her arrest last week at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in Bangkok's Khlong Toei district.

 

In the wake of the discovery, ONCB Secretary-General Pol Lt-Col Phanurat Lukboon expressed the unprecedented nature of the haul. "It is the first time we have seized such a large quantity of methamphetamine," he disclosed to AFP.

 

The operation was fueled by intelligence provided by the Royal Thai Navy. Back in December, the Navy tipped off the ONCB about an African drug syndicate's strategy, which involved using cotton bales as a disguise for moving drugs from Africa through Thailand to other countries, exploiting it as a transit point.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai TV 5

Lukboon admitted the clever concealment tactics employed by traffickers, noting that the methamphetamine, impregnated into the cotton, was virtually invisible to the naked eye, complicating detection efforts.

 

This significant crackdown underscores Thailand's ongoing battle against drug smuggling. The seizure highlights the innovative and audacious methods international trafficking rings use to evade law enforcement.

 

The confiscated methamphetamine is valued at approximately 49.5 million Thai Baht (£1.1 million) if distributed on the streets, reflecting the scale and financial incentive driving these illegal activities.

 

This operation not only disrupts a major supply chain but also sends a robust signal of Thailand's commitment to fighting the drug epidemic that impacts the region, reported Thai PBS.

 

-- 2025-01-21