Police and forensic officials discovered approximately 6 kg of heroin hidden inside Thai fabric sets. The package was sent from Loei to Phuket, and a man was hired to carry it to Australia. Suspicious circumstances led to authorities being alerted for further inspection.
At 14:45 on 5 May 2026 at the third-floor meeting room of Wichit Police Station, Pol. Col. Somsak Thongklieng, Chief of Wichit Police, together with forensic officials from Phuket, examined evidence in a case involving possession of a Category 1 narcotic (heroin) and attempting to export it abroad without permission.
After officers from Division 2, Narcotics Suppression Bureau 4, together with Wichit Police, seized suspicious parcels sent via a private courier company from Loei province to a village in Sakoo Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket, consisting of two sacks containing 48 sets of finished Thai fabric garments. Hidden inside was 6.198 kg of heroin. The seizure occurred on 30 April 2026. Authorities collected latent fingerprints from the fabric sets and parcels before gathering evidence to present to the court to issue arrest warrants for those involved, following legal procedures.
This followed a tip-off on 30 April 2026 from Lt. Chupong Nilbuss, Deputy Inspector of Division 2, Narcotics Suppression Bureau 4, who coordinated with Pol. Col. Somsak Thongklieng, Chief of Wichit Police, upon learning of suspicious parcels believed to conceal narcotics sent from Moo 5, Paktom Subdistrict, Chiang Khan District, Loei Province. The recipient was named Mr. Atthapol, residing in a village in Sakoo Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket. Surveillance was set up accordingly.
Later, delivery staff brought two sacks to the specified house, opened the gate, and placed them on the ground in front of the house. By evening, no one had come to collect the parcels. Authorities then revealed themselves to inspect the parcels and questioned household members, learning that the named recipient was traveling to Australia. Initially, the sacks contained only Thai fabric sets with no illegal substances found.
On 2 May 2026, Mr. Atthapol, who works for an airline, contacted the police who had seized the parcels. He reported that he had been hired via Facebook Messenger to carry Thai fabric sets to a recipient in Australia but suspected that the fabric might conceal illegal items or drugs. He expressed his intention to hand over the parcels to police for thorough inspection.
Subsequent examination found suspicious items hidden inside the linings of the 48 Thai fabric sets within the two sacks. Preliminary drug testing using Marquis Reagent indicated a purple color, suggesting heroin. The heroin was confiscated as evidence and handed over to investigators at Wichit Police Station to expand the investigation into the heroin smuggling network. Mr. Atthapol is currently undergoing further questioning.
Pol. Col. Somsak Thongklieng, Chief of Wichit Police, said officers from Division 2, Narcotics Suppression Bureau 4, seized over 6 kg of heroin concealed in 48 Thai fabric sets across two sacks sent from Loei Province. The heroin was intended to be carried by a person hired to transport the goods from Thailand to Australia. Police acted after intelligence and intercepted the suspicious parcels before the carrier could proceed. The heroin had not yet been smuggled out of the country.
Moving forward, Wichit Police will expand the investigation to trace the source sending these parcels to Phuket. It is believed to be part of a sophisticated smuggling operation using individuals hired via social media to carry goods. The carriers are unaware that the Thai fabric sets conceal heroin, allowing them to pass inspections without suspicion. Investigations have found that such carriers have already transported heroin-laced Thai fabric or other goods in sacks abroad three times, highlighting a highly cunning drug smuggling method.