Ex-Shipping Company Employee Arrested For Alleged Drug Smuggling To Australia

[webfact]

Ex-shipping company employee arrested for alleged drug smuggling to Australia

BANGKOK, Aug 14 - Thai drug police arrested a former shipping company employee for smuggling quantities of crystal methamphetamine, or 'ice', and heroin to Australia, seizing property at his residence worth over Bt40 million.

Thai national police chief Pol Gen Prewpan Dhamapong announced at a press conference the arrest of Saharak Angkanit, 42, after arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court.

The seized items included cash, gold ornaments, cars, and land deeds at his home in the northern province of Chiang Mai's San Pa Tong district.

According to police, the man was attempting a disguise when he contacted a shipping company to export lamps and ceramic vases.

Over 300kg of ice, 252kg of heroin and an unstated amount of marijuana were confiscated earlier this month in two containers of Thai ceramics arriving at Sydney’s Port Botany. The drug seizure was Australia's biggest capture of ice and its third largest haul of heroin. Seven suspects were arrested there -- four from Hong Kong, and three Australian-Chinese.

Suspect Saharak said to the police he was paid Bt2.2 million for the latest shipment. He denied involvement with a drug smuggling ring and said he did not know the drugs' source. More than Bt1 million of the earnings was spent for the shipping company's management fee, he said.

However, the police did not believe the suspect, the Gen Prewpan said, for he had used the shipping company’s service for more than 10 years for customs matters. From July 10 last year to June 28 this year, he exported goods 18 times through the firm, seven times to Australia, eight to the Netherlands, and three to Belgium. The drug smuggling was believed to have been involved in four of the seven shipments to Australia.

Police Chief Prewpan said one of Mr Saharak's duties was to buy terracotta pots in Nakhon Ratchasima and send them to a warehouse in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district, near Bangkok, where drugs were packaged and traces of drugs were found by police earlier this month.

The authorities in both countries are investigating further whether there are foreign members of the smuggling ring in Australia.

The Thai police chief said he will pass on the matter to his incoming successor Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkaew, who will replace him on Oct 1, to continue and finish the project of permanent border checkpoints at Mae Phrik and Hua Rai in the northern province of Lampang. The two checkpoints will effectively prevent and intercept drug smuggling from north to south, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-14

[asiawatcher]

From the red queen in Alice in Wonderland... "Off with his head".

[kartman]

So When was he a an ex-employee ? yesterday ,10 years ago, or never employed by the company .

[TomTao]

Thats one source plugged, how many others to be plugged before the flow is stemmed?

[jaltsc]

I find it very interesting...OK hysterical...that there is an advertisement (ads by Google) for INTLMOVERS on this page. Maybe their motto is; "Ship with us if it has to get there undetected".

[squarethecircle]

^^^Same on my page, an advertisement for "Home Drug Delivery Services" with several pharmaceutical drugs pictured. Target Advertising with a twist.

[softgeorge]

Oh Please, I hope the Thai Police are not going to try and take credit for this arrest. This was the result of a year long Australian Federal Police investigation and he was arrested at the request of the AFP who will shortly apply for extradition so that he can be put on trial with accomplices already in custody in Australia.

Can't wait for the Thai media release where the entire BIB will display thier catch for the cameras and pat each other on the back.

Related Thai Visa Topic from World News.

Posted 2012-07-31 16:40:57

Heroin, Ice Network Smashed In $500M Drug Bust

Federal Police say they have smashed a $500 million Hong Kong-based drug ring which was smuggling half a tonne of heroin and ice into Australia.

Overnight police arrested four men from Hong Kong at an apartment in central Sydney, and three Australian residents, also Hong Kong nationals, in Sydney's west.

The drugs - 306 kilograms of ice and 252 kilograms of heroin - were found hidden in 100 terracotta pots inside shipping containers during a raid at Port Botany nearly two weeks ago.

The containers had been shipped to Australia from Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.abc.net.a...g-busts/4165830

Edited August 14, 2012 by softgeorge

[surangw]

Seems to me the drug producers in thailand should ask why they have to smuggle it out when so many times persons are found to be bringing it in.

[alfalfa19]

252 kg of what I assume is Thai white heroin? If true, that is an incredible amount, it must be more that what was seized in the French connection case. 554 pounds of pure white heroin, the financial yield would be staggering.

[gk10002000]

So the fellow was living in a residence valued at 40 million baht. That is an expensive place that had to stick out and at some point even a casual police investigation or neighborhood query would be raised. Big money is noticed. Hard to keep a low profile when making money and spending it when there is no obvious job or company

[kartman]

So the fellow was living in a residence valued at 40 million baht. That is an expensive place that had to stick out and at some point even a casual police investigation or neighborhood query would be raised. Big money is noticed. Hard to keep a low profile when making money and spending it when there is no obvious job or company

Told everyone he was a Head Monk somewhere?

[softgeorge]

252 kg of what I assume is Thai white heroin? If true, that is an incredible amount, it must be more that what was seized in the French connection case. 554 pounds of pure white heroin, the financial yield would be staggering.

500 million (AUD)

Federal Police say they have smashed a $500 million Hong Kong-based drug ring which was smuggling half a tonne of heroin and ice into Australia from Thailand.

Edited August 15, 2012 by softgeorge

[SOEYCHANLOY]

So the fellow was living in a residence valued at 40 million baht. That is an expensive place that had to stick out and at some point even a casual police investigation or neighborhood query would be raised. Big money is noticed. Hard to keep a low profile when making money and spending it when there is no obvious job or company

yes Thais simply cant keep low profile! The need to show their wealth... What strange mammals....!

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