Bangkok: The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) has seized more heroin hidden in tea and coffee, destined for Taiwan.
According to Thai News Agency, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) intercepted heroin hidden in coffee and Thai tea destined for Taiwan, seizing over 2.1 kilograms. Authorities are now working to identify the masterminds behind this transnational drug trafficking network.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, Secretary-General of the ONCB, revealed that on July 3rd, ONCB officers inspected a private parcel delivery company. They observed a suspicious woman bringing a package destined for Taiwan and requested to inspect it. Upon inspection, they discovered heroin concealed inside three large bags of instant coffee and one bag of Thai tea, weighing a total of 2,100 grams. During initial questioning, the suspect confessed to being from Chiang Rai province and having traveled to Bangkok before bringing the package to Taiwan. She stated she received the coffee and Thai tea bags containing the heroin from Chiang Rai and was paid 10,000 baht in cash for delivering the package. Authorities are currently coordinating with relevant agencies to investigate further and apprehend the employer, those who ordered the operation, and all those involved in the trafficking operation.
This seizure involved a similar concealment method to the heroin found hidden in coffee bags previously discovered by the NSB. Therefore, it is believed that this may be the same network or have connections, and further in-depth investigation is underway. This also reflects the fact that drug trafficking networks continue to attempt to use Thailand as a route for smuggling drugs abroad, employing methods such as concealing drugs in consumer goods and utilizing international parcel delivery systems. However, through integrated intelligence gathering, investigation, and surveillance by relevant agencies, drug smuggling attempts can be consistently intercepted.
The Secretary-General of the ONCB stated that the ONCB, under the Ministry of Justice, will continue to integrate its work with all sectors, both domestically and internationally, to intensify surveillance of drug trafficking through international transport systems. This includes tracking and seizing assets of drug trafficking networks and accelerating the arrest of all those who ordered, commissioned, and accompliced in the schemes, in order to prosecute them decisively according to the law. The aim is to prevent Thailand from being used as a transit route for transnational drug trafficking networks and to build confidence in the international community regarding Thailand's effective drug prevention and suppression efforts. The public is also warned against accepting or accepting any responsibility for sending parcels abroad without knowing the source or thoroughly inspecting their contents, as this could make them tools of drug trafficking networks and lead to legal penalties, even if they claim ignorance.