Bangkok: The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has arrested two suspects for concealing 14.8 kg of heroin in a Slurpee machine, intending to ship it to Taiwan. The illegal substance was intercepted at a private shipping company in Bangkok.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the ONCB, stated that the arrests took place between January 29 and 30, 2025. The Narcotics Suppression Bureau, in collaboration with the ONCB and the Military Intelligence Unit, Royal Thai Army Operations Center (M.I.O.C.), executed arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court. The suspects, identified as Mr. Patipat and Mr. Suphadet, face charges for conspiring to distribute Category 1 narcotics, particularly heroin, without permission.
The arrest was linked to a seizure on May 14, 2024, when two Slurpee machines filled with heroin were discovered at a private shipping facility in Bangkok, ready for shipment to Taiwan. The subsequent investigation led officers to identify Mr. Patipat and Mr. Suphadet as the senders. Consequently, an integrated task force was formed under the direction of Mr. Prin Mekhanan, Director of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, to further investigate and gather evidence, resulting in two arrests while one suspect remains at large.
The ONCB Secretary-General emphasized the ongoing challenge posed by transnational drug trafficking networks using Thailand as a transit hub. He highlighted the critical importance of collaboration with domestic and international agencies to dismantle these networks. The ONCB is committed to pursuing the financiers behind these operations, aiming to seize their assets and bring all involved parties to justice in accordance with the law.