Thai customs seizes 62 kg 'ice' destined for Malaysia

BANGKOK: Thai customs confiscated 62 kilogrammes of 'ice' (methamphetamine) in Bangkok worth about 37 million baht hidden in a shipping container destined for Malaysia.

A Thai man was arrested following the seizure at a port in Bangkok on Monday.

Director-general of Customs Department Patchara Anantasilp said acting on a tip-off, a joint operation carried out and they inspected a container at a port on Monday.

“We decided on an X-ray check of the container and discovered suspicious object in the container. We opened the container and found all the drugs.

“Enforcement officers discovered the drugs packed in tea bags hidden in defective and old engines in the container,” he said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Manu Mekmok said a Thai man from southern Thailand, named as the exporter of the shipping container, was arrested for investigation.

“We hope to establish more leads and looking for others who may be involved,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Customs investigation officer disclosed that the suspect, who had records of involvement in drug-related activities, is on the Customs’ watchlist.

“The document shows the final export destination is Malaysia. However, we believed the drugs will be exported to other countries with higher price upon arrival in Malaysia,” the officer said.

-- BERNAMA