Bangkok: The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) arrested a British man in a luxury condo and seized cocaine worth over 3 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, ONCB officers employed a double-cross scheme to apprehend the suspect, confiscating 1.1 kilograms of cocaine valued between 3 to 3.5 million baht. The arrest followed an investigation into a transnational drug network in collaboration with the Royal Thai Army’s Intelligence Department and the 1st Army Area Command’s Operations Center.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suriya Singhakamol, Secretary-General of the ONCB, detailed the operation’s success in preventing Thailand from becoming a drug hub for foreign tourists. He emphasized the thorough tracking of the suspicious package, which culminated in the arrest and seizure. The cocaine was reportedly smuggled into the country through postal parcels, using a condo in central Bangkok as a storage area.
The operation was initiated after a suspicious package containing 1,100 grams of cocaine was discovered. Sent under a foreign recipient’s name, the package was initially refused by condominium staff, prompting a postal retrieval. However, a 25-year-old British man attempted to claim the package, leading to his immediate arrest by the task force.
The authorities seized 1,100 grams of Category 2 narcotics (cocaine), believed to be intended for sale to foreign tourists. Additional items, including cannabis, were discovered in the suspect’s room. The British man faces charges for importing Category 2 narcotics into the Kingdom without permission for commercial purposes, contributing to its spread among the public.
The ONCB Secretary-General highlighted the seizure as indicative of transnational efforts to introduce potent club drugs into Thailand. These include ecstasy, happy water, ketamine, Five-Five, and laughing gas, all illegal. He urged strict monitoring and suppression efforts to safeguard society and youth from drug abuse.