PM targets outbound drug smuggling, flags tighter customs checks

BANGKOK, July 3 (TNA) - Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul chaired a Narcotics Control Board (NCB) meeting on Friday, declaring drug suppression a national priority and calling for international-standard measures to curb smuggling to Australia.

Anutin urged integrated cooperation among all state agencies to tackle trafficking at its source, praising current enforcement efforts.

NCB Secretary-General Pol. Maj. Suriya Singhakamol said police are interrogating a delivery rider who transported a parcel concealing drugs to a flight attendant at her condominium in Bangkok's Bang Na district. They are currently pursuing the remaining suspect, who was seen carrying a parcel from the sedan.

The senders of the package containing concealed heroin from Udon Thani have been identified as a Thai husband and his Laotian wife. They are also being questioned to trace a transnational network routing narcotics through Thailand to Australia and Taiwan.

Suriya added that two major masterminds based in a neighboring country manage the shipments. Preliminary findings indicate Thailand serves primarily as a transit point, with foreign buyers and sellers communicating directly.

Customs Department Director-General Phantong Loykulnanta proposed tightening outbound passenger screening, noting that customs enforcement previously focused primarily on arrivals. He said Thailand is deploying K9 sniffer dogs received from Australia last year, with two currently active and three in training. 

The heightened scrutiny follow the recent arrest of a Thai flight attendant in Australia after heroin was found hidden inside the inner lining of her luggage. However, the investigation has yet to conclude whether she knowingly smuggled the narcotics or was merely hired to carry the bag without realizing the drugs were inside.

Phantong noted that Thailand made major, unpublicized seizures over the past year—including 200 kilograms of heroin and 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. -819 (TNA)