Two Thai women arrested over heroin hidden in sun cream bottles bound for Australia
Two Thai women were arrested over heroin hidden inside sun cream bottles bound for Australia.
The suspects, named Ploy, 20, and Wilaiwan, 19, attempted to send the contraband disguised as cosmetics overseas before narcotics officials intercepted the shipment in a raid in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
Police said the operation was launched after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) received intelligence that drugs were being smuggled abroad through an express air courier company in Chiang Mai.
Officers searched the parcel depot and intercepted three packages bound for Australia containing bottles of sun cream.
They opened the containers and allegedly found a white powder hidden inside the cosmetic bottles. Laboratory tests later confirmed the substance was heroin.
Police reviewed CCTV and identified the senders as Ploy and Wilaiwan, while the intended recipient was Ngoc Nguten in Australia.
Authorities said they are investigating whether the smuggling operation is connected to larger international drug trafficking syndicates that recruit couriers to send narcotics overseas.
The arrests were announced on August 6, alongside two other anti-drug crackdowns.
Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakhon, commander of Provincial Police Region 5, said: ‘The Office of the Narcotics Control Board Region 5 is preparing to expand the investigation to determine whether the network smuggling heroin out of the country is linked to drug syndicates previously arrested for recruiting couriers to transport narcotics overseas.
‘At the same time, intelligence reports indicate that heroin production has resumed in Thailand's neighbouring countries following a decline in output from major production bases in Afghanistan.
‘This shift has increased demand among traffickers and users in third countries, prompting producers in neighbouring countries to increase output and export larger quantities through Thailand, resulting in a rise in arrests in recent months.'
The Provincial Police Region 5 said that since October 5 last year, they have handled more than 27,345 drug-related cases.
More than 420 million meth pills, 22,817 pounds (10,350kg) of crystal meth, 231 pounds (105kg) of heroin, 2,866 pounds (1,300kg) of ketamine, and 903 pounds (410kg) of opium were confiscated during the same period.
The latest arrests come as Thai authorities continue to probe a suspected drug smuggling network operating between Thailand and Australia.
Investigators believe the network is linked to the case of former beauty queen and flight attendant Mina, who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on June 25 after Australian Border Force officers allegedly found heroin concealed inside elephant-print tote bags in her luggage.
The tall brunette, who had previously won beauty pageants, was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
She was remanded in custody on June 26 and is scheduled to reappear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 14.
