Police Arrest Couple With 3,347 ‘Zombie Pod’ Cartridges

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Police have arrested a couple in Bangkok after discovering more than 3,300 illicit “zombie pod” vape cartridges containing etomidate in a house in the Ram Inthra area, leading to a significant seizure valued at about 3.5 million baht. The operation was led on 27 November by Pol Lt Col Yoschanin Prasertsopa of the Women and Children Protection Sub-Division (WCPD), with officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Bangkok. The pair, identified as Mr Few, 29 and Ms Noey, 24, were detained along with three mobile phones and packaging equipment allegedly used to prepare the cartridges for distribution.

Officers from the WCPD, ONCB Bangkok and related units conducted the raid under the direction of Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, Pol Maj Gen Pannlop Aremla, Pol Maj Gen Teeradej Thamsuthee, Pol Col Santi Korkasem, Pol Lt Col Woraprach Wuttirak, Pol Lt Col Peerach Vesaskosol and ONCB Bangkok director Prinn Mekanun. The suspects were arrested at their residence in Tharang, Bang Khen district, where officers located 3,347 vape cartridges containing etomidate, known on the street as “zombie pods”. Investigators also seized phones believed to contain communication records and tools for packing the products.

According to police, the suspects admitted they were responsible for packing and placing the products at various pre-arranged drop-off points as instructed by their employer. They said they received a monthly cash salary of 25,000 baht, delivered together with stock and instructions and claimed all orders came through the Telegram app. They told officers they never had direct contact with customers and only followed distribution directions from their employer.

Police said the arrests stemmed from a previous case on 25 September, when WCPD officers and ONCB Bangkok arrested four suspects, three Thais and one Singaporean, with a large quantity of etomidate-mixed vape cartridges. Investigators later identified Mr Few as a supplier based on information gathered from the earlier arrests. Surveillance then tracked his movements and residence, ultimately leading to the raid and seizure.

Daily News reported that the suspects have been charged with jointly distributing a Category 2 controlled substance (etomidate) for commercial purposes without permission, an offence that poses risks of public spread. They also face charges under Section 242 of the 2017 Customs Act for distributing or handling goods known to be linked to a customs offence. Police say further investigation will focus on identifying the employer and wider distribution network behind the illegal vape operation.

Key Takeaways

• Police seized 3,347 etomidate-laced vape cartridges and arrested two suspects in Bang Khen.

• The pair admitted to packaging and placing products at drop-off points for 25,000 baht per month.

• The operation followed an earlier September arrest that led investigators to the suspects.

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 Adapted by Asean Now from Dailynews 2025-11-29