Photo courtesy of Thai Newsroom

 

Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has issued a warning about heroin laced with fentanyl being smuggled through the country, often disguised as bars of soap, to reach third countries. Pol. Lt. Col. Suriya Singhakamol, the ONCB’s secretary-general, highlighted the extreme potency of fentanyl, noting it is 100 times more potent than morphine and extremely lethal in small doses.

 

Fentanyl, originally approved in the 1960s for medical use in the US, has become a leading cause of opioid overdose deaths. Statistics from the US Drug Enforcement Administration reveal high numbers of fentanyl-related deaths: 73,838 in 2022, 72,776 in 2023, and 62,223 in 2024. Despite a 14.5% decrease, the figures remain high and concerning.

 

The ONCB is seeking cooperation from the public and various sectors such as transportation, airports, and hotels to report suspicious activities potentially linked to drug trafficking. The agency has provided a 24-hour hotline (1386) for such information. The White House claims that Chinese companies supply chemical components to gangs dealing in fentanyl, with accusations also aimed at Canada and Mexico for failing to inhibit its smuggling into the US.

 

Fentanyl is frequently mixed with other drugs, leaving users unaware of its presence, and a mere two milligrams can be fatal. The global supply chain for fentanyl has grown over the past decade, challenging efforts by law enforcement and policymakers to manage it. China remains the main source of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production, complicating worldwide efforts to curb its distribution.

 

Key Takeaways

• The ONCB warns of heroin laced with fentanyl smuggled through Thailand, disguised as soap.
• Fentanyl-related deaths in the US remain high, with 62,223 fatalities in 2024.
• China is a key source of chemicals used for producing fentanyl, complicating control efforts.

 

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Authorities Destroy Drugs, Including 139 Million Meth Pills

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-10-14

 

 

Dangerous drug.  Lost a good friend to overdose in Kentucky.

Surely no one injects "as is" but the drug dealer will cut it with something else before selling it to a junkie, otherwise they risk killing all their customers. 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

China remains the main source of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production,

 

Nothing good comes from China - ever.

Will bump off a few who think it's something else I'm sure .

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The global supply chain for fentanyl has grown over the past decade, challenging efforts by law enforcement and policymakers to manage it.

CCP doing it's best to conquer the world... 

Nothing good comes outta Communist China

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

CCP doing it's best to conquer the world... 

Much of the fentanyl drug comes from Mexico into the US.

Since 2019 China has criminalized the production and exportation of Fentanyl,

 

16 hours ago, Purdey said:

Surely no one injects "as is" but the drug dealer will cut it with something else before selling it to a junkie, otherwise they risk killing all their customers. 

 

Since as little as 2 mg can kill, does anyone know any dealers that are extra careful with regard to their cutting?

 

Does anyone know a dealer who cares?

 

Crickets....

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Since 2019 China has criminalized the production and exportation of Fentanyl,

 

On 10/15/2025 at 8:57 AM, Tailwagsdog said:

Nothing good comes outta Communist China

Correction: Everything we use comes out of Capitalist China.

Drug wars have been, and always will be, completely ineffective.

 

Give people what they want, and tell people what they're getting in the best we can do.