Nong khai: The Customs Department seized 600,000 methamphetamine pills (Type 1 narcotics) that were smuggled into the country, with an estimated value of approximately 72 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has prioritized accelerating efforts to address the drug problem, emphasizing integrated cooperation among all relevant agencies to systematically intercept and suppress drug trafficking networks from their source, during transit, and at their destination. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, has instructed the Customs Department to integrate cooperation with law enforcement agencies to increase the stringency of controls on imports and exports, particularly high-risk items such as narcotics and precursors.
Following the policies of Mr. Panthong Loykulnan, Director-General of the Customs Department, and Ms. Suntariya Twichaprasit, Deputy Director-General, customs officers have been instructed to strictly prevent and suppress violations of customs laws and other related laws, under the direction of Mr. Saransak Srikruanetr, Governor of Nong Khai Province.
Ms. Wanna Phu-utsah, Customs Officer of Nong Khai Customs, acting as Director of the Nong Khai Customs Office, along with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and related agencies, inspected an empty trailer truck entering the inbound cargo truck inspection station at the Nong Khai border checkpoint. The inspection revealed three bags hidden in the tarpaulin compartment at the truck's cab. The trailer truck was then X-rayed and thoroughly searched. Another bag was found hidden in the tarpaulin compartment of the trailer. Upon opening all four bags, suspicious items resembling narcotics were discovered. Nong Khai Provincial Forensic officers conducted a test using ONCB051 Marquis Reagent, which changed from clear to a yellowish-brown color, indicating the presence of methamphetamine. The seized narcotics totaled 600,000 methamphetamine pills (Type 1 narcotics), with an estimated value of approximately 72 million baht. The suspect and the seized narcotics were then handed over to the Nong Khai City Police Station for further investigation and prosecution of those involved.