Massive Meth Bust: Thai Authorities Seize Tons of Drugs

Over 2 metric tons of methamphetamine were seized from a tourist boat in Eastern Thailand. Eight men face charges for attempting to smuggle the drugs valued at over $90 million. The meth, disguised as corn flour, highlights Thailand's drug policy enforcement amid rising illicit trade in Southeast Asia.

In a significant crackdown on the illegal drug trade, authorities in Thailand have intercepted over 2 metric tons of crystal methamphetamine from a tourist boat near a pier in Eastern Thailand.

The operation led to the arrest of eight individuals in Rayong province, who have been accused of attempting to smuggle nearly 2.4 metric tons of the substance across the southern border. Officials have not disclosed the intended destination or origin of the hefty consignment.

Valued at over 3 billion baht ($90.8 million) if sold internationally, the meth was cleverly packed in plastic bags disguised as corn flour packages, with each bag containing about one kilogram. Enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of a van and a truck suspected of being used in the smuggling endeavor.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra publicly commended the officials involved, reinforcing the government's firm stance on drug policy. United Nations experts have pointed out that neighboring Myanmar remains a significant source of methamphetamine and heroin in the region.

A recent United Nations drug agency report indicates that methamphetamine and other illegal drugs are proliferating rapidly in Southeast Asia, with 2024 witnessing a record 236 tons of drugs being seized—marking a 24% increase from the previous year.

The notorious "Golden Triangle," a region known for its illicit drug production, where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand converge, is historically linked to opium and heroin production but has shifted towards methamphetamine in recent decades due to its ease of production on an industrial scale.

(With inputs from agencies.)