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Thai Customs at Bangkok airport nab over 107 million baht of heroin bound for Hong Kong

Bob ScottPublished: 10:21, 08 March 2023| Updated: 10:38, 08 March 2023

2,191 1 minute read

Thai Customs at Bangkok airport nab over 107 million baht of heroin bound for Hong Kong — Patchara Anultasilp (left), director-general of the Bangkok Customs Department, shows heroin hidden inside hilltribe-style garments bound for Hong Kong, at the department’s head office on Tuesday. Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post.

Thai Customs officials at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday intercepted a drug shipment bound for Hong Kong, discovering over 43 kilogrammes of heroin hidden in hill tribe garments. The illicit drugs were estimated to be worth 107.5 million baht.

According to Patchara Anultasilp, director-general of the Thai Customs Department, officials grew suspicious of 29 boxes destined for Hong Kong, which were declared to contain home appliances, garments, cosmetics, and hair removal devices. Upon inspection, officials found hill tribe-style shirts and waist ties in six of the boxes, reported Bangkok Post.

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Upon further examination, Thai Customs officials discovered that the sleeves of the shirts were unusually thick and had a strong odour. They decided to tear the garments and found fabric packs containing heroin hidden inside the sleeves and waist ties. After all the clothes were inspected, a total of 43.4 kilogrammes of heroin was seized.

This recent drug bust is one of many that have occurred at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok over the past few years.

In 2019, authorities arrested a Nigerian man attempting to smuggle 1.8 kilogrammes of cocaine into Thailand via the airport.

In 2018, three Thai nationals were arrested for attempting to smuggle 16 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine out of the country. In the same year, a Nigerian man was caught attempting to smuggle 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine into Thailand.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenge faced by Thai authorities in combating drug trafficking through its airports.

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The Thai government is optimistic that it can stamp out the illegal use of narcotics after the success of a recent drug programme in the northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province.

Three weeks provincial governor Suwit Chanhuan reported that the “change for good” program that has been piloted in Nong Bua Lam Phu over the past three months has been a success in encompassing drug prevention, suppression, and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the Customs Department pledged to continue to monitor, intercept, and crack down on any illegal drug shipments.

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Bob Scott

Bob Scott is an experienced writer and editor with a passion for travel. Born and raised in Newcastle, England, he spent more than 10 years in Asia. He worked as a sports writer in the north of England and London before relocating to Asia. Now he resides in Bangkok, Thailand, where he is the Editor-in-Chief for The Thaiger English News. With a vast amount of experience from living and writing abroad, Bob Scott is an expert on all things related to Asian culture and lifestyle.