Thai police foil major attempt to smuggle drugs into Malaysia

BANGKOK (Bernama): A major attempt to smuggle 400kg of “Ice” (crystal methaphetamine) and 77kg of heroine worth billions of baht into Malaysia was foiled by the country's Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB).

Six suspects including a woman were arrested in separate operations in Hatyai, Chumpon and Nakhon Si Thammarat last Thursday and Friday (July 19 and 20).

“We believe the drugs were destined for Malaysia,” NSB’s Lt Gen Sommai Kongvisaisuk told the media here Monday, adding that a lorry transporting the drugs was intercepted at a petrol station in Kuanlong sub district, Hatyai.

Upon closer inspection, NSB officers found the drugs hidden under PVC pipes the lorry was carrying, with the driver being detained for further interrogation.

Another three suspects whom the authorities believed acted as the syndicate’s “reconnaissance party” were picked up in Thungsong district, Chumpon, while another two suspects were nabbed in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

All the suspects, aged between 27 and 53, have been detained to facilitate further questioning.

NSB southern provinces commander Maj Gen Kitti Sapaothong said the lorry was heading to Takbai in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand after making a brief stop at a petrol station in Hatyai.

Takbai is located near the Thai-Malaysian border.

“NSB Investigations revealed the suspects had transported drugs to Takbai several times before this,” he said, adding that NSB officers began tracking the lorry after receiving intelligence information about its presence.

After an exhaustive search, they finally found the lorry in Hatyai at about 9pm (local time) last Thursday, said Sapaothong. – Bernama