The ONCB spokesperson stated that Australian police have identified "Dear," the woman waiting to receive a package from flight attendant "Meena," who has lived abroad for more than 10 years. Investigations into the trafficking network are accelerating, with suspicions of foreign collaborators. Meanwhile, the flight attendant has not been charged yet, with a prosecution decision expected on 14 September.
At 3:30 p.m. on 6 July 2026, Ms. Areepak Ngenbamrung, Deputy Secretary-General and ONCB spokesperson, updated on the case involving the Thai flight attendant arrested in Australia after heroin was found in her luggage. She said the Thai husband and Laotian wife arrested were responsible for receiving drugs from Laos, with pre-packaged drugs sent either by mail or hand-to-hand delivery in 2-3 instances. The operation is sizable, and as noted by Pol. Maj. Gen. Teeradej Thammasuthi, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, scammers were involved, creating avatar pages to lure flight attendants who travel internationally into carrying drugs. This is a major national-level trafficking network now under the Department of Special Investigation's jurisdiction.
Initially, the DSI has been assigned to investigate the heroin’s final destination and has coordinated with Australian police. The recipient has been identified as a Thai woman named “Dear,” who has repeatedly collected packages in this manner. Evidence and witnesses link her to Australia. ONCB has provided this information to Australian authorities. It is confirmed that “Dear” has lived in Australia for over 10 years. Details on what happens to the drugs after receipt remain unclear and are under Australian investigation. The location where Meena and “Dear” met to exchange the drugs cannot be disclosed.
Regarding connections between the package recipients in Loei province and Bangkok, it remains unclear whether they are all linked to Ms. Meena. Since this is now a DSI case, information from various sources will be compiled to examine links. So far, “Dear” is confirmed to exist and is under investigation to trace the source. It is believed that the large network in Australia includes more than one person and likely involves foreigners as well. Australian police are expected to continue expanding the investigation.
Ms. Areepak said that regarding the reliability of Ms. Meena’s luggage checks before travel, ONCB invited Meena’s boyfriend to provide a statement. He cooperated well, has a good occupation, and stated that on the day the goods arrived, he saw Meena bring a trolley with boxes into her condo, then pack the boxes into a suitcase. He admitted helping and checked all elephant-patterned cloth bags, finding nothing suspicious before packing them into the suitcase. The suitcase passed Thailand’s X-ray inspection showing normal orange light without anomalies. Regarding the disputed payment of 8,800 baht, this was only an allegation from Australia found on a mobile phone. It is unclear whether two transfers of 1,700 baht were made upon receipt. No financial traces were found in Meena’s bank account, which shows only a few thousand baht balance. Police must investigate further.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Uthai Kanapiwat, who delivered the package to Ms. Meena, confessed to delivering drugs 3-4 times and only once to Meena, marking his first involvement in trafficking. It is known that drugs originated from the Golden Triangle in northern Thailand, transported into the country through northern and northeastern routes.
When northern routes are heavily blocked, traffickers shift to northeastern routes. However, this does not mean authorities neglect that area, as Thailand and Laos share intelligence and recently held bilateral meetings in Chonburi to monitor both sides. Despite this, traffickers continue attempts to smuggle drugs through Nakhon Phanom and Bueng Kan provinces, with seizures exceeding 5 million tablets. Similar activity occurs in Loei and Nong Khai provinces along the Mekong River. Due to the long border, officials cannot monitor continuously, allowing occasional smuggling. The military and Border Patrol Police continue inspections. Once drugs pass the northeastern border, they are packaged and received by networks who distribute them domestically.
Based on interrogations and evidence ONCB holds, it is still unclear whether Ms. Meena knowingly participated. Multiple issues require clarification. Mr. Uthai’s claim that he only delivered once and did not know Meena suggests possible unintentional involvement, but further investigation is needed to determine intent. Currently, all information has been forwarded to Australian authorities and the Thai embassy to assist Thai nationals. Meena is not yet a suspect but is detained awaiting prosecution. She is reportedly cooperating well and communicating with the Thai consulate in Australia.
The avatar page named “Rose Rose” could be run by Laotians, Thais, foreigners, or residents in Australia; this remains unconfirmed. Collaboration with DSI and related agencies is ongoing. It is uncertain if this network is connected to Mr. Ming Chen’s drug ring; it could be unrelated or part of a new group. Investigations cover all aspects including financial transactions, money laundering, and associated crimes. Whether “Dear” will be apprehended depends on Australian police, as all information has been shared. The decision on whether to prosecute Ms. Meena will be announced on 14 September at Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Meanwhile, efforts continue to gather information to support the case.