Thailand foils attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into M'sia via sea route

Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has put a dampener on a drug syndicate's attempt to smuggle a large consignment of 'Yaba' methamphetamine pills into Malaysia, via sea route from southern Thailand, with the arrest of three drug couriers.

Following the seizure of the 4.08 million pills which were hidden at a rubber plantation in the Satun province, ONCB officers picked up the suspects on Thursday in Trang, a two-hour drive from the province.

The three men were arrested in Trang, about two hours from Satun after the authorities uncovered the drugs hidden in a rubber plantation.

"The drug was neatly wrapped in waterproof plastic to withstand the rough sea journey into Malaysia. Although its destination was Malaysia, it does not mean the entire consignment was for the country's consumption as it could also be re-exported to a third country," ONCB chief, Sirinya Sitdichai told Bernama here today.

He was unaware of the drug's destination in Malaysia.

The Satun Province, located just across the Malaysian border neigbouring Perlis, has been identified by Thai authorities as among the favourite haunts for smuggling activities, including by drug and human trafficking syndicates.

A fast boat ride from one of Satun's secluded coast or island to Langkawi or its inhabited group of islands takes only minutes.

According to Sirinya, the drug was sourced from Wa State, an autonomous region in Myanmar and smuggled into northern Thailand when the three suspects transported it to Trang, where they hid it inside a rubber plantation.

The drug, he said, were not only wrapped neatly with waterproof plastics to ensure no seawater seepage during the sea journey, but it also carried famous labels such as the Manchester United Football Club and Facebook''s thumbs-up ''Like'' logos.

"Maybe, it was because the syndicate members were fans of Manchester United," he added.

Meanwhile, ONCB's narcotics law enforcement bureau director, Sittisak Watjanarat told Bernama the suspects chose Trang to transit the drug because of the province's 'clean' image.

"Thus, they thought it was safe to hide the drug in Trang (before sending it to Malaysia)," he said.

-- BERNAMA