A 57-year-old man was arrested on arrival at Suvanabhumi airport from Pakistan with 79,200 tablets of anti-anxiety and stimulant medication in his luggage, Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkol said on Monday.
Ansiri Anwar, 57, described only as being from South Asia, arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport from Karachi on Friday, Mr Wichai said.
He was arrested by the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF), a combined team of Customs Department, Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), Armed Forces Security Centre (AFSC) and ONCB officials tasked with suppression of drug smugglings via airports and international postal services.
Mr Anwar’s three suitcases were found to contain 4,200 tablets of the stimulant methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin), 5,200 tablets of zolpidem (Ambien), 5,200 tablets of alprazolam ((Xanax)), 23,800 tablets of zolpidem tartrate, and 40,800 tablets of diazepam (Valium)) – 79,200 in total, Mr Wichai said.
The first four were classified as Category 2 drugs and the fifth as Category 4 – all of them affect the central nervous system.
Mr Wichai said South Asia had become a major regional source of chemicals and drugs. Transnational criminals from South Asia had been active in Thailand, involved in illegal activities including producing and trading of fake passports, forgery of documents, human smuggling and the trade in drugs.
ONCB statistics showed that between 2018-2022 nine suspects from South Asia were arrested in eight cases – with 31.22 kilogrammes of ketamine, 2.4kg of cocaine, 1.1kg heroin, 6.5 grammes of ice or crystal methamphetamine and 8 meth pills seized.
South Asia encompasses Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
People found to be involved in illegal production, import, export and sale of or having in possession Category 2 narcotic drugs are liable to one to 15 years in jail and/or fine of 100,000 – 1,500,000 baht. Those found with Category 4 drug stimulants are liable to a jail term of up to five years and/or maximum fine of 500,000 baht.