Thai authorities seize more than 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine worth over $90.8 million
Eight men were arrested Saturday in Rayong province for allegedly attempting to smuggle the nearly 2.4 metric tons (2.6 tons) through the southern border, officials said. They did not elaborate on the intended destination or the drugs' origin.
If sold abroad, the drugs are estimated to be worth over 3 billion baht ($90.8 million), Thailand's Department of Special Investigation said.
The drugs were packed in plastic bags disguised as corn flour packages. Each contained about one kilogram. Authorities said they also seized a van and a truck believed to be involved in the drug smuggling.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra thanked officials for their efforts and told a press conference that 'the government is serious about our policies on drugs.'
United Nations experts have said neighboring Myanmar is the source of most of the region's methamphetamine and heroin.
A report from the U.N. drug agency last month said the illicit trade in methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs is growing quickly in Southeast Asia, with a record level of seizures in 2024 — 236 tons — a 24% increase over 2023.
The 'Golden Triangle,' where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, is famous for the production of opium and heroin, which flourished largely because of the remote location and lax law enforcement. In recent decades, methamphetamine has supplanted opium and heroin because it is easier to make on an industrial scale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Drugs gang jailed for running Vampire Line in Norfolk
Four people have been jailed for a total of 16 and a half years for running a drugs line in Great Yarmouth. They were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. The group had been running the Vampire Line which operated between September 2021 and January 2022 in London, Oldham and Great Yarmouth. Sarah Hayes (Image: Norfolk Police) Sarah Hayes, 42, of Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. Jucietice Macotia, 22, of South Quay, Great Yarmouth, was jailed for five years and seven months. Ellis Stafford, 23, of Park Gate Oldham, was handed a three years and six months jail sentence. READ MORE: Flasher admits exposing himself to passengers on passing buses Jucietice Macotia (Image: Norfolk Police) Hayther Monterio, 21 of Egerton Street, Oldham, was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail. In January 2022, police were searching for an unrelated wanted person in Great Yarmouth and went to a property in Wellesley Road. Several phones and SIM cards were found inside the address and a quantity of drugs were discovered hidden under the cooker hood. Ellis Stafford (Image: Norfolk Police) Macotia and Monterio were at the property and they were arrested by officers. Further enquiries led officers to Hayes and Stafford. It is estimated that the drugs recovered in this case were worth around £7,720. READ MORE: Terrified homeowners woke to find man outside armed with metal pole Hayther Monterio (Image: Norfolk Police) Inspector James Makepeace said: "The imprisonment of these drug dealers marks the conclusion of a lengthy but successful investigation into the Vampire Line which was dealing dangerous drugs in Great Yarmouth. "We remain committed to disrupting these supply lines, which in turn disrupts the criminals intent on fuelling wider issues like violence and anti-social behaviour here. "We will continue to take robust action against those who seek to exploit vulnerable people and bring harm to our communities."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Yorkshire beautician accused of smuggling cocaine due in court one year on from arrest
A beauty therapist accused of attempting to smuggle 43kg of cocaine into the United States is scheduled to appear in court this month, twelve months after her initial arrest. Kimberly Hall was detained at O'Hare Airport in Chicago during August 2024 while she was preparing to catch her connecting flight back to Manchester from Mexico. Get all the latest and breaking North Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here. READ MORE: I was late for work but ended up saving a man's life READ MORE: Newlyweds stopped from going on honeymoon after groom's passport mishap Homeland Security officials arrested the now 29 year old after allegedly uncovering cocaine valued at approximately £3.5 million concealed within two suitcases. Records from Cook County Sheriff's Office reveal that Hall's upcoming court appearance is scheduled for Monday, August 25, reports Teesside Live. The substantial quantity of drugs confiscated means Hall, from Middlesborough, faces one of the most severe penalties, with Class X Felonies typically resulting in 15-60 years imprisonment. In November last year, whilse under house arrest awaiting trial for the drug charges, she featured on ITV's This Morning and told how two British men, who she met during a Portuguese holiday, offered her a free trip to Mexico. Previously speaking out, Kim maintained she was forced by the men into transporting the substances after being threatened at gunpoint. Her relatives in the UK said "the only thing she's guilty of is being stupid and being naïve". In May, as previously reported by Teesside Live, it was claimed that the beautician had voluntarily presented herself to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in February, after being released on an electronic monitoring tag. It's believed that Hall booked a flight out of the country when Cook County Prosecutors became aware. The Chicago Tribune reported earlier this year that a judge has since revoked the beautician's electronic monitoring tag and sent her to jail. Judge Michael McHale noted that Hall was "almost successful in her attempt" to flee the United States and had a flight back to the UK booked before police realised what was happening, according to The Mirror. It remains unclear whether ICE agents were aware of the charges Hall was facing while assisting her in her alleged plan to return to Britain. Hall's solicitor Carter claims that she was actually apprehended by ICE while enquiring about job opportunities in the United States. She was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver following her arrest in August last year.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eda Ezrin sets to return to music after release from Thai prison
20 Aug - Malaysian singer Eda Ezrin is ready to return to her music career now that she is free again, starting with the filming of a music video for her latest single next week. Eda Ezrin, real name Wan Norshaheeda Azlin Wan Ismail, said she has received numerous performance invitations in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and several other states since her release from Narathiwat Prison in Thailand on 7 August. However, she will only be accepting offers in Kelantan for the time being. "I'm not ready to perform at venues that are far away, especially outside Kelantan," she told the New Straits Times. In addition to reviving her music career, the mother of two shared her intention to venture into business, with the full support of her husband. The "Bey Soba Bey" singer, her husband, and four others were released earlier this month after being detained for more than nine months in Thailand. The group was arrested by Sungai Golok police during a raid at a hotel in November last year, where 6,059 Yaba pills were seized. In March this year, the Narathiwat Provincial Court acquitted all six of them of drug possession charges. However, the Thai prosecution appealed the decision, resulting in an extended detention order of six months to allow more time for the prosecution to gather new evidence and witnesses. By the end of the extended detention on 6 August, the prosecution failed to produce any evidence, prompting the judge to order the immediate release of Eda, her husband, and the four others. (Photo Source: Eda Ezrin IG)
