Authorities in Thailand have made a substantial drug bust, seizing a total of 1.6 tonnes of illicit substances, including ketamine and crystal methamphetamine. The drugs were found concealed within a pickup truck, cleverly disguised under layers of cabbages.
The driver of the truck, a 39-year-old Thai national, was apprehended over the weekend in the central province of Ayutthaya. The arrest occurred when the vehicle was stopped at a petrol station.
According to a statement released by Bangkok police on Sunday, the confiscated haul comprised 900 kilograms of ketamine and 700 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. These quantities were packed in numerous parcels and buried beneath bags of the leafy vegetable in the truck bed.
The arrested driver reportedly admitted to being hired for the transport job, stating he was paid 100,000 baht, equivalent to approximately $3,000 USD. He faces severe penalties for his involvement in drug trafficking, which can carry a maximum sentence ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.
Law enforcement agencies indicated that they suspect the drugs originated from a neighbouring country, though the specific country of origin was not disclosed.
Thailand remains a significant transit point for illegal narcotics within Southeast Asia, and authorities frequently conduct raids leading to the seizure of hard drugs such as heroin and various forms of methamphetamine.
Recent reports from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlight the escalating issue, noting that a record 236 tons of methamphetamine were seized across East and Southeast Asia in 2024, marking a 24% increase from the preceding year.
The UNODC has identified Thailand as a principal transit and destination country for methamphetamine originating from neighbouring Myanmar, and it consistently records the highest quantities of seized meth in the region.
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