Thai police seize 1.18 tonnes of meth in Gulf drug trafficking case

Thai authorities have seized 1,178 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine worth more than 300 million baht from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Thailand and arrested six Thai crew members in an operation targeting an alleged transnational drug trafficking network.

Pol Gen Itthipol Achariyapradit, deputy national police chief and director of the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Centre, announced the results of the operation at the Marine Police station in Songkhla on October 8.

The operation, codenamed “Sayop Phrai Matchanu Prap Samut”, involved the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Marine Police, Matchanu and Hanuman special operations teams, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center, the Second Naval Area Command, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Thailand.

Fishing vessel tracked into lower Gulf

Police said narcotics intelligence officers had been investigating the fishing vessel EAST HARBOUR 1 after receiving information that it was allegedly being used to transport drugs through Thai waters for transfer to larger vessels in the Gulf of Thailand.

Officers spotted the vessel leaving the Songkhla coast on October 4 and believed it was heading out to collect narcotics. A patrol vessel was deployed to follow it.

At about 12.30am on October 7, officers intercepted and took control of the vessel in the lower Gulf of Thailand while it was allegedly transporting the drugs for onward delivery.

Police arrested the Thai captain and five Thai crew members. A search of the vessel uncovered crystal methamphetamine concealed in a secret compartment at the stern.

The drugs were packed in tea bags inside 39 sacks, along with another eight packages, and weighed a total of 1,178kg. Police estimated their value at more than 300 million baht.

Authorities also seized the EAST HARBOUR 1, which was valued at about 7 million baht.

Police say shipment was bound for Philippines

The six suspects were charged with jointly possessing a Category 1 narcotic for sale for commercial purposes, causing its spread among the public and affecting state security.

Police said the suspects initially admitted receiving the drugs in the Gulf and preparing to send them on to the Philippines. They allegedly told investigators they had been promised 100,000 baht for the job and communicated with those directing the operation through the Line messaging application.

Itthipol said the operation was carried out under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s policy making the fight against illegal drugs a national priority.

National police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma has also instructed officers to intensify drug suppression operations.

Police said checks on the vessel showed it was registered under the flag of Mali, in West Africa, while its registered holder was a Lao national. Authorities said the vessel had previously been linked to a similar drug transportation operation in August.

The six suspects and seized evidence have been handed over to investigators from Narcotics Suppression Division 4 for legal proceedings.

Police are continuing their investigation in an effort to identify and arrest the alleged organisers and financiers behind the trafficking network.