Chinese man arrested in 70 million baht heroin bust in Nong Khai
Police in Nong Khai apprehended a Chinese national involved in a transnational drug trafficking operation. The suspect allegedly concealed 120 kilogrammes of heroin within car batteries, claiming he was merely hired to manage logistics and inspect the parcels.
Yesterday, December 18, Police officials, including Piratch Udompisutikun, Yutthana Ngamchat, Rattasart Chidchu, and Suchart Thonmanee, collaborated with various police and military units to investigate a significant drug cache hidden in 20 crates of car batteries.
The operation was prompted by a report from a private courier company near Nong Khai railway station, which was alerted by the suspicious behaviour of a Thai man who had dispatched the parcels from Bangkok to Nong Khai.
Upon arrival, the police initially conducted a perimeter check and observed a man inspecting the parcels. The suspect, a Chinese national, required a translator for communication.
Upon opening the boxes labelled as alcoholic beverages, they discovered car batteries with signs of tampering. Inside, drugs were found concealed and covered with plaster. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance as heroin.
During questioning, the Chinese suspect claimed his involvement was limited to being commissioned by a fellow Chinese national in Vientiane, Laos, to handle payments and inspect the parcels. The ultimate destination was Vietnam, after which the heroin, hidden in 20 crates each containing four batteries, was to be smuggled abroad, reported KhaoSod.
Each battery contained between eight to nine packs of drugs, totalling approximately 120 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of 70 million baht (US$2 million). This value could increase tenfold if smuggled into countries like the United States or Europe.
In related news, police in the northeastern province of Nong Khai successfully intercepted a major drug smuggling operation involving two Thai women and a man from Laos, seizing 10 kilogrammes of heroin. The operation, believed to be preparing for internal distribution and eventual export, was halted on November 29.
