A 39-year-old Indian man was arrested and charged with smuggling after 5.7 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated 17 million baht, were found in his bags upon arrival at Don Mueang airport from Laos.
The arrest was announced by the airport’s customs office on Monday morning. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat stated that the suspect, whose full name was not released, had arrived around 4:40 PM on a flight from Luang Prabang on Sunday. His behavior at Don Mueang airport raised suspicions.
Officials X-rayed his luggage and subsequently examined it more closely. They noted that the two backpacks and two small travel bags were unusually heavy. Upon opening the bags, they discovered four packages of cocaine weighing a total of 5,755 grams. The drugs were valued at approximately 17 million baht, according to Mr. Julapun, who was present at the media briefing alongside deputy customs department chief Niti Witthayatem and senior police officials.
The Indian suspect was charged with illegally bringing Category 2 drugs into the country and possessing them. He was handed over to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s Division 1 for legal action.
Pol Col Chokchai Warasart, superintendent of NSB Division 1, said the suspect claimed he had brought the cocaine from Laos with the intention of delivering it to India, not Thailand. Police were skeptical of his story and are investigating his background for any criminal record.
