Picture courtesy: Facebook Khaosod

 

Authorities at Phuket International Airport apprehended an American woman attempting to smuggle 4 kilograms of the drug “ice” (methamphetamine) en route to South Korea via Singapore. She is now facing legal action.

 

On the 23rd of February, police received a report from a customs official about an overweight baggage issue at the international terminal of Phuket Airport.

 

This prompted an investigation, revealing a potential drug smuggling operation on Scoot Airlines flight TR653, heading first to Singapore before reaching its final destination in South Korea.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., authorities identified a suspicious passenger named Melba. She was flagged for potential drug smuggling as she checked in her luggage.

 

Upon inspection, her suitcase contained clothing, along with four sets of bed sheets that appeared unusually heavy.

 

A detailed search of the bed sheets uncovered methamphetamine concealed inside brown-taped, carbon paper-wrapped, clear plastic packages weighing a total of 4,300 grams.

 

The authorities promptly charged her with attempting to export illicit narcotics without permission and possessing methamphetamine illegally. She has been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings, reported Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-02-24

 

 

The epitome of "stupid" however you look at it. 

So, how long are you going to Thailand for?

About 25 years ...

And yes, those drug smugglers know that South Korean airport customs are very relaxed with flights arriving from Singapore.

Lucky she wasn't caught in Singapore

This woman may have been unaware of what is in the bag. Yes, it happens.

She is lucky she never made it to Singapore. Death penalty there. I just wonder how people think they can smuggle drugs. A village is missing its idiot

1 minute ago, bergenser1 said:

Lucky she wasn't caught in Singapore

 

Probably Changi airport transit lounge.

1 minute ago, Bigwave12 said:

She is lucky she never made it to Singapore. Death penalty there. I just wonder how people think they can smuggle drugs. A village is missing its idiot

You are correct, death penalty is mandatory in Singapore!

13 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

This woman may have been unaware of what is in the bag. Yes, it happens.

It does, but reading the OP about how it was packed, I feel it  unlikely that was the case here. (Pardon the pun 😏)

There is no cure for stupid.

Just now, Hakuna Matata said:

This woman may have been unaware of what is in the bag. Yes, it happens.

I tend to agree, she looks fairly old in the picture...

8 minutes ago, Homburg said:

There is no cure for stupid.

Not even Duct tape

She's old enough to know better. Must be on hard times. Very sad way to spend your retirement years.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

police received a report from a customs official about an overweight baggage issue

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

She was flagged for potential drug smuggling as she checked in her luggage.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

her suitcase contained clothing, along with four sets of bed sheets that appeared unusually heavy

 

The odds that an elderly American woman would be "flagged" as a possible drug smuggler are very low - it seems much more likely that someone informed on her. (In the old days, it was common for the gang arranging the smuggling to send 3-4 people at once, and rat out one of them to make it easier for the others to get through.)

 

It makes no sense that 4.3kg of drugs would cause her bag to be overweight, or that packs of bedsheets weighing about 1kg - a typical weight for a set of king size sheets - would have aroused suspicion, so there was almost certainly something else going on here.

" passenger named Melba" (from the article). I'd say "she's toast".

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Facebook Khaosod

 

Authorities at Phuket International Airport apprehended an American woman attempting to smuggle 4 kilograms of the drug “ice” (methamphetamine) en route to South Korea via Singapore. She is now facing legal action.

 

On the 23rd of February, police received a report from a customs official about an overweight baggage issue at the international terminal of Phuket Airport.

 

This prompted an investigation, revealing a potential drug smuggling operation on Scoot Airlines flight TR653, heading first to Singapore before reaching its final destination in South Korea.

 

At approximately 8:30 p.m., authorities identified a suspicious passenger named Melba. She was flagged for potential drug smuggling as she checked in her luggage.

 

Upon inspection, her suitcase contained clothing, along with four sets of bed sheets that appeared unusually heavy.

 

A detailed search of the bed sheets uncovered methamphetamine concealed inside brown-taped, carbon paper-wrapped, clear plastic packages weighing a total of 4,300 grams.

 

The authorities promptly charged her with attempting to export illicit narcotics without permission and possessing methamphetamine illegally. She has been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings, reported Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-02-24

 

 

Her next accommodation is prepared already. Stupid tart. 

2 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

 

 

The odds that an elderly American woman would be "flagged" as a possible drug smuggler are very low - it seems much more likely that someone informed on her. (In the old days, it was common for the gang arranging the smuggling to send 3-4 people at once, and rat out one of them to make it easier for the others to get through.)

 

It makes no sense that 4.3kg of drugs would cause her bag to be overweight, or that packs of bedsheets weighing about 1kg - a typical weight for a set of king size sheets - would have aroused suspicion, so there was almost certainly something else going on here.

 

Maybe trying to do hand carry only: those budget airlines can be really strict on hand carry size and weight. Although stuffing hand carry with drugs is monumentally dumb because it would show up clear as day at security

 

8 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

 

 

The odds that an elderly American woman would be "flagged" as a possible drug smuggler are very low - it seems much more likely that someone informed on her. (In the old days, it was common for the gang arranging the smuggling to send 3-4 people at once, and rat out one of them to make it easier for the others to get through.)

 

It makes no sense that 4.3kg of drugs would cause her bag to be overweight, or that packs of bedsheets weighing about 1kg - a typical weight for a set of king size sheets - would have aroused suspicion, so there was almost certainly something else going on here.

Which leads to the old question "Did you pack your own case"

I pack, lock and strap mine. 

16 minutes ago, cranki said:

I tend to agree, she looks fairly old in the picture...

 

Someone in the States offered her a lot of money and a free trip I will bet.  Well, she is going to get to see a little more of Thailand than she bargained for.  

 

7 years here in jail and then a government-paid trip home, probably.

 

Get ready for her family to complain about the conditions granny has to live in, being unfair

Veteran AN members may recall the feckless Karen Smith and Patricia Cahill who got caught at Don Muang in the early 90s with 20+ kg of heroin in their baggage. Their bags were so overweight they were denied boarding the first time around (I think not enough cash to pay for excess baggage) so came back the next day ...

Just now, BKKBike09 said:

 

Maybe trying to do hand carry only: those budget airlines can be really strict on hand carry size and weight. Although stuffing hand carry with drugs is monumentally dumb because it would show up clear as day at security

 

The article does specify 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

as she checked in her luggage

 

But yes, carrying drugs in carry on that would be screened again in Singapore would be monumentally stupid.

She looks to be 60s or more. At a guess I would say she's been duped into this, only a guess of course. Either way, she's gone to the cells for a long time. Won't be easy for her.

Some off topic posts deflecting the topic have been removed 

1 minute ago, kingstonkid said:

 

Someone in the States offered her a lot of money and a free trip I will bet.  Well, she is going to get to see a little more of Thailand than she bargained for.  

 

7 years here in jail and then a government-paid trip home, probably.

 

Get ready for her family to complain about the conditions granny has to live in, being unfair

No it will be "gofund me !!" for legal costs

The US lost an idiot.

Unfortunately Thailand added one to it's pool.

If caught in Singapore, one idiot less on this planet.

3 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

No it will be "gofund me !!" for legal costs

 

 

My bad forgot that stage LOL

29 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

This woman may have been unaware of what is in the bag. Yes, it happens.

 

That should be seriously considered. If I were to fly into Singapore, it would be with carry-on luggage only, which was never out of my sight.

Just now, oslooskar said:

 

That should be seriously considered. If I were to fly into Singapore, it would be with carry-on luggage only, which was never out of my sight.

Hopefully, the media will follow this and we get more info.  Either way I am sure this is not what she bargained for.

32 minutes ago, Homburg said:

There is no cure for stupid.

but is there for desperate?