Thai anti-drug police find no contraband in arrested flight attendant’s room

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) - A search of a Thai flight attendant's apartment yielded no illegal items following her arrest in Australia for smuggling heroin, though CCTV footage showed a man delivering a package to her shortly before her flight, Thailand's Justice Minister said.

Meena, 26, was arrested in Melbourne on June 24 after Australian police allegedly found 1 kilogram of heroin in her baggage while she was working on flight TG465.

Officers discovered suspicious objects inside two "elephant-patterned cloth bags" out of a total of 12 pieces of luggage. Upon slicing open the stitched lining, they found a white powder concealed inside. Scientific testing subsequently confirmed the substance to be heroin, with a total weight of over 1 kilogram. The contraband carries a black market value in Australia of up to 500,000 dollars, or approximately 11 million baht.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) searched her Bangkok apartment and questioned her boyfriend to trace the drug network. Justice Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruthaphon Naowarat said the search uncovered only shipping boxes. Friends told investigators she ran a side business carrying parcels, but preliminary financial checks showed no unusual transactions.

Condominium security footage from June 22 showed a man delivering an item to her outside the building.

The Justice Minister emphasized that it remains premature to conclude whether the flight attendant was knowingly involved in the smuggling operation. While she was caught in possession of the drugs in Australia, the Thai investigation must examine all circumstantial evidence, and authorities intend to ensure a fair process, he said. 

The Ministry of Justice also plans to hold talks with Airports of Thailand PCL (AOT) to review baggage screening protocols for departing flights to address existing security gaps and limitations. - 819 (TNA)